182 Part III.— Tenth Annual Report 
TABLE V. — Statistics relating to Beam-Trawl Vessels. 
Year. 
Steam Trawl Vessels. 
Total Trawl Vessels (including 
Sailing Vessels and Boats). 
No. 
Tons 
Men. 
Value of 
Vessels. 
Value 
of Nets, 
&c. 
No. 
Tons 
Men. 
Value of 
Vessels 
Value 
of Nets, 
&c. 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
38 
47 
61 
4369 
4105 
5929 
276 
350 
457 
£ 
109,906 
144,805 
208,452 
£ 
4810 
6920 
8410 
*47 
61 
105 
109 
103 
107 
110 
118 
132 
2004 
2284 
2857 
2914 
2304 
2689 
4982 
4705 
6484 
478 
495 
626 
£ 
59,980 
117,770 
114,845 
94,849 
73,394 
84,421 
111,174 
148,873 
212,113 
£ 
6204 
8258 
9662 
* Nearly all steamers. 
These statistics would have been more useful if details had been given 
for the years 1883-88 as they have been since the latter year; but they 
show the great increase which has occurred in trawling vessels. In 1883 
there were 47, of a gross tonnage of 2,004, and valued at £59,980. Last 
year the number was 132, of 6,484 tons, and valued at £212.113, the 
value of their gear being £9,662 in addition. Of these trawlers 71 were 
sailing vessels or boats of an aggregate value of £3,661 ; the value of the 
61 steam vessels being £208,452. 
Thus, while there has been a falling off in the number of fishermen and 
fishing boats since 1886, there has been an almost progressive increase in 
the number, tonnage, and value of beam-trawlers. The importance of 
this fact will be seen when we come to deal with the statistics of the fish 
captured. 
The facts and figures set forth in the foregoing pages show that a very 
great increase has taken place in the men, boats, and gear employed in the 
fisheries, and in the capital embarked— especially on the East Coast — 
since 1825. They also show an immense increase in the apparatus or 
machinery for the capture of fish, both in the aggregate and when con- 
sidered in relation to the number of men and boats employed. Thus, we 
have been able to ascertain with considerable accuracy the data concern- 
ing this side of the inquiry. I turn now to the statistics relating to the 
produce — the fish caught. 
3. Statistics of Fish Caught. 
The statistics of the fish captured are much less satisfactory than those 
of the men, boats, and gear. The reason of this is to be found in the 
fact, previously adverted to, that the fishery statistics originated in the 
bounty system, and hence, for a long time, only certain fish cured in a 
certain way came under review. For a comparatively brief period — from 
