10 
Part III. — Eighth Annual Report 
The experimental observations on the capture of immature flat 
fish show that these are captured in great numbers by the beam- 
trawl, but in much smaller proportions, and these chiefly belonging 
to the least valuable kinds, by line fishermen. 
Special Fishery Statistics. 
The special statistics collected by the Scientific Department of 
the Board are discussed at page 26. 
In 1889 the line fishermen along the East Coast of Scotland 
landed 55,566 tons of line-caught fish, or above 1000 tons more 
than they did in 1888. These amounts were landed by 7535 boats 
in 1888, and by 7380 boats in 1889. On the other hand, beam- 
trawlers landed in 1889, on the East Coast, 11,370 tons of trawled 
fish, or above 800 tons less than they did in 1888. There are no 
reliable statistics of the number of beam-trawlers engaged, for a 
considerable number of English trawlers work off the Scottish coast 
and land their fish at Scottish ports, but these vessels are not in- 
cluded in the official returns. Considering the whole East Coast, 
there was an increased amount of round fish landed by line fisher- 
men, and a diminished amount of flat fish ; while there was a 
decrease in the quantities both of round fish and flat fish landed 
by trawlers. When the northern and southern sections of the 
coast are compared, it appears that while in 1889 line fishermen in 
the northern section landed a larger quantity of round fish and a 
smaller quantity of flat fish, they landed less round fish, and a 
considerably greater quantity of flat fish in the southern section, 
where beam-trawling has been longest interdicted. Beam-trawlers 
in the northern section landed larger quantities of both round fish 
and flat fish in 1889 than in 1888 ; and in the southern section 
smaller quantities both of round fish and flat fish. The statistics 
referring to this subject are graphically represented on Plate II. 
The statistics dealing with the productiveness of the territorial 
waters to line fishermen, show that in 1889 the average catch per 
boat was greater than in 1888 ; the increase was most marked in 
the Montrose and Stonehaven districts, and was mainly due ti) an 
increased catch of cod. In the southern districts there was 
relatively a greater increase. in flat fish than in the northern. 
Other statistics refer to the Buckhaven haddock and cod fishery 
carried on in the territorial waters. They show an increase in large 
haddocks, and a decrease in small haddocks and whitings in 1889, 
as compared with 1888. 
Special statistics were obtained as to the relative proportions of 
small and large fish landed by fishermen and beam-trawlers ; these 
are dealt with more in detail in the Report on Immature Eish. 
2. The Distribution of Immature Sea Fish and their Capture 
by various Modes of Fishing. 
The capture of immature sea fish by various modes of fishing has 
on several occasions been made a subject of inquiry by Eoyal Com- 
missions. At the present time it is engaging the close attention 
of the fishery authorities in France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, 
and other countries; and, by the intermediation of the various 
