xxiv 
Tenth Annual Report of the 
Beam Trawlers, 
No. 
Tonnage. 
1883 : 
43 
2004 
1884 . 
61" 
2284 
1885 . 
105 
2875 
1886 . 
109 
2914 
1887 . 
103 
2304 
1888 . 
107 
2689 
1889 . 
110 
3608 
1890 . 
118 
5967 
1891 . 
132 
6484 
3. Value of Boats and Gear. — The value of the boats 
corresponds to the variations in the numbers recorded above. The 
maximum of £923,956 was attained in 1885, since which year the 
value has gradually fallen. Last year the boats were valued at 
£676,452, or £247,504 less than in 1885. The value of nets shows 
the same rise to 1885, and fall thereafter. Last year the nets were 
valued at £611,150, or no less than £173,576 beneath their value in 
1885. The value of lines has, on the other hand, increased almost 
year by year up to 1891, when they were valued at £127,928, or 
£13,650 more than their value in 1882, and £8164 more than 
their value in 1885. 
Decreasing But although beam-trawlers have increased so greatly in 
nsh Ply ° fflat numDers ano ^ tonnage, the increase in the total quantity of flat fish 
caught is not commensurate with the increase in the means of 
capture, as the following figures show : — 
Year. 
Turbot. 
Lemon Sole. 
Flounder, Plaice, 
and Brill. 
Cwts. 
£ 
Cwts. 
£ 
Cwts. 
£ 
1883 
3,902 
11,080 
1,702 
3,225 
67,226 
48,409 
1884 
4,234 
9,368 
4,163 
5,589 
72,758 
47,729 
1885 
7,350 
13,535 
5,898 
7,486 
83,180' 
52,865 
1886 
3,882 
9,774 
7,573 
9,372 
81,164 
50,198 
1887 
5,282 
14,426 
11,737 
13,836 
96,354' 
59,863 
1888 
5,424 
16,310 
12,669 
16,512 
87,184 
55,918 
1889 
6,338 
20,472 
14,391 
21,295 
74,270 
53,072 
1890 
5,554 
18,459 
16,651 
27,386 
81,309 
68,187 
1891 
5,015 
17,215 
17,739 
30,223 
78,776 
67,103 
It is evident that while the prohibition of beam trawling 
within the territorial waters may have been a right step, with a 
view to the recuperation of inshore grounds, it will be necessary 
sooner or later to go much further and take measures for its 
regulation on the fishing banks offshore. 
The greater number of the beam-trawlers landing fish at Aberdeen 
are not Scotch, but English. Last year the entire number of 
