xiv 
Ninth Annual Report of the 
Returns of 
cod, ling, and 
hake fisheries 
in 1890, as 
compared with 
1889. 
Total quantity 
of white fish 
used in a fresh 
state. 
Value thereof. 
White fishing 
successful. 
Haddocks. 
Good demand 
for fresh fish 
and prices 
higher than in 
1889. 
State of 
weather. 
143 lives lost. 
Boats wrecked 
and damaged ; 
and loss of 
fishing gear. 
The cod, ling, and hake fishing of last year yielded a total oE 
749,130 cwts., for which the fishermen received £222,728. Of this 
quantity 145,266^ cwts. were cured dried, and 6186 barrels cur.3d in 
pickle, showing an increase as compared with the previous year of 
15,031 cwts., but a decrease in value of £9,577 in those landed, 394| 
cwts. in those dried, and 734 barrels pickled. A larger quantity is 
every year despatched to the home markets in a fresh state. The total 
quantity of dried cod and ling exported was 98,775 cwts., of which 
64,599 cwts. were sent to Ireland, 18,390 cwts. to the Continent, 
and 15,786 cwts. to places out of Europe. When compared with 
1889 these totals show a decrease of 424 cwts. in the export to 
Ireland, and 14,295 cwts. in that to the Continent; but an 
increase in the quantity sent to places out of Europe of 4,796 
cwts., being a net decrease from the preceding year of 9,923 cwts. 
The pickled cod were all consumed in this country. 
The total quantity of wliite fish landed and used in a fresh state 
amounted to 2,289,803^ cwts. against 1,977,357 cwts. in 1889, 
showing an increase on that year of 312,446 J cwts. The returns of 
white fish used fresh continue to exhibit an increase, the consump- 
tion in 1890 being greater than that of any of the preceding six years 
during which returns have been collected. The greatest increases 
were in herrings, flounders, whitings, ling, and lemon soles, while 
the greatest decreases were in cod, haddocks, and eels. The aggre- 
gate value of white fish landed and disposed of for consumption 
fresh was £900,416, being an increase on the previous year of 
£156,065. 
When the weather permitted, the white fishing was prosecuted 
regularly throughout the year, and, as the above figures show, 
generally with satisfactory results. Haddocks, which are second 
only to herrings in point of quantity and value, were occasionally 
taken in exceptionally large quantities, particularly along the 
Berwick and Aberdeen coasts, at a distance of from one and a half 
to six miles from land, and in January especially very large 
haddocks were caught. Although the gross take of haddocks in 
1890 was considerably under that of th(} previous year, the value 
was very much greater. The demand for all kinds of fresh fish 
was good throughout the year, and the average prices obtained were 
higher than in 1889, except during the glut created by the heavy 
takes of line fishermen, chiefly in January. 
During the great summer and autumn herring fishing the 
weather was generally suitable for fishing, with the exception of 
the 25th of June, when a severe storm occurred, which unfortunately 
resul ted in the loss of the lives of about fifty fishermen. Twelve boats 
were totally wrecked, a large number damaged, and there was a heavy 
loss of netting. In consequence of this disaster, the catch of the 
season was less than it would otherwise have been, as many of the 
fishermen were unable to replace their nets. It is to be regretted that 
the losses of last year were much greater than those of the preced- 
ing one. The returns show that 143 fishermen were drowned, 45 
boats totally wrecked, and 193 damaged, the aggregate pecuniary 
loss being estimated at £10,570. In addition, there was a loss of 
nets and other fishing material, amounting to £46,769, or a total 
loss in boats and fishing material of £57,339. It is now seven 
