of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xxxiii 



£11,296, the smaller prices realised being due to the same causes 

 which operated in the case of plaice. As in the preceding year, 

 Leith, Wick, and Findhorn districts contributed the bulk (86 per 

 cent.) of the East Coastline catch (5768 cwts.), while nearly one- 

 half of the West Coast returns (3435 cwts.) were referable to 

 Stornoway District. Leith and Montrose districts contributed 

 practically the whole of the trawl landings, only a very small pro- 

 portion being landed by sailing beam trawlers in Ballantrae and 

 Rothesay districts. Comparing the results with those of the pre- 

 ceding year, it appears that there was a decline in the catch and 

 value of 2353 cwts. and £1645 of which trawlers were responsible 

 for about one-fifth and nine-sixteenths respectively. 



Witches and Megrims. 



In 1906 witches were landed almost solely by trawlers, 

 and almost entirely — to the extent of over 94^ per cent. — at 

 Aberdeen. The total catch amounted to 16,707 cwts., valued at 

 £23,881, as compared with 22,657 cwts. and £23,811. in 1905, so that, 

 although there was a considerable decrease in the quantity, prices 

 were so much higher that the total sum realised was rather greater 

 than in 1906. Megrims are landed entirely by trawlers, and, like 

 witches, almost entirely at Aberdeen. The total catch and value 

 in 1906 were 10,708 cwts., valued at £10,374, these results show- 

 ing slight decreases from the preceding year's returns. 



Dabs and Brill. 



The total catch of dabs in 1906 amounted to 6478 cwts. valued 

 at £2728. these figures differing but little from the preceding- 

 year's totals. About three-fifths of the catch was landed by 

 trawlers, chiefly at Leith and Aberdeen, but liners are credited with 

 rather more than half the value. As will be observed from a com- 

 parison of the quantity and value with the corresponding figures 

 for other flat-fish, dabs are not a highly esteemed article of food, 

 this being attributable to their smaller size and poorer flavour as 

 compared with other species. Brill are landed only in small 

 quantities at Scottish ports, and the total catch amounted to 

 but 1038 cwts., valued at £1666, practically the whole catch, in the 

 ratio of 2 to 1, being landed by trawlers in Leith and Aberdeen 

 districts. 



Halibut. 



Halibut are at present caught chiefly by steam liners, which 

 accounted for about seven- twelfths of the total catch of 36,686 

 cwts., while trawlers landed more than four-twelfths and sailing 

 liners the remainder. The bulk of the line catch is landed at 

 Aberdeen, which so many steam liners now make their headquarters, 

 and here, also, nearly three-quarters of the trawl catch is 

 brought to market, Leith being the only other contributor of 

 importance. The catch for 1906 was about 1100 cwts. greater 

 than in 1905. As regards value, the total realised was £65,796. or 

 c 



