of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 29 
taken ia December, when the average was 2 'SI. There was, however, 
a sliglit decrease in the average catch of large haddocks, combined with a 
great increase in the number of small liaddocks and whiting^,. The average 
for large haddocks in 1889 was 80*1 per 'shot,' and in 1890, 78-8; for 
small haddocks and whitings the averages were 68*4 in 1889 and 130'5 
in 1890. The figures for the last seven years are as follows : — 
Total Number 
of ' Shots' 
Averat<e Number 
of Cod 
per ' Shot. ' 
Average Nnuiber 
of Large Had- 
Avei'age Number 
of Small Had- 
during the 
Year. 
docks per 
' Shot.' 
docks and Whit- 
ings per ' Shot.' 
1884/<- 
4524 
0-34 
22-1 
38-3 
1885, 
4542 
0-50 
23-4 
221-5 
1886, 
7869 
0-32 
31-8 
147-0 
1887, 
6270 
0-23 
42-8 
208-9 
1888, 
5548 
0-45 
62-6 
228-4 
1889, 
4535 
0-46 
80-1 
68-4 
1890, 
3396 
0-72 
78-8 
130-5 
These statistics show a great decrease in the prosecution of the inshore 
line fishing by the Buckhaven boats ; but they also show an increased 
average catch per shot of cod and large liaddocks, and a variation in the 
quantities of small haddocks and whitings. The increased average of tlie 
latter for 1890 as compared with 1889 is no doubt largely owing to an 
increase of the catch of whitings for the reasons given previously. The 
greatest number of large haddocks were captured in 1890 during the 
months of October, November, and December, and the greatest number 
of small haddocks and whitings in June, July, August, and September. 
4. The Proportion of Large and Small Fish captured by Beam- 
Trawlers AND Line Fishermen. 
In Table F (p. 153) the quantities of large and small fish landed in the 
Leith and Aberdeen districts by line fishermen and beam-trawlers are 
given. In the Leith district, if the quantities taken by beam-trawlers 
and line fishermen in the extra-territorial waters are compared, they show 
that beam-trawlers captured a larger proportion of small cod, haddock, 
whiting, plaice, and 'other kinds of white fish,' than the line fisher- 
men did. Line fishermen captured somewhat larger proportions of small 
turbot and halibut. The quantity of cod landed by beam-trawlers was 
15,885 cwts. large and 1200 cwts. small; while line fishermen captured 
in the extra-territorial waters 15,801 cwts. of large cod and 859 cwts. small. 
Beam-trawlers landed 27,1 19 cwts. of large haddocks and whitings and 
14,918 cwts. small, or in the proportion of about two large to one small. 
Line fishermen in the same waters captured 42,253 cwts. of large haddock 
and whiting, and only 10,143 cwts. small, or in the proportion of about 
one small fish to four large. Within the territorial waters, however, from 
which beam-trawlers are excluded, and where young fish most al)ounds 
the proportion of small fish captured by line very much exceeds the pro- 
l)ortion in offshore waters, and this seems to apply to all the kind, 
mentioned in the returns. 
In the Aberdeen district the proportion of small cod landed by beam- 
trawlers was also much larger than in the case of line fishermen, and the 
same is true in regard to haddock and whiting, although the dilFerence 
here is not great. No statistics are furnished as to the quantities of large 
and small turbot and halibut landed at Aberdeen, but in the case of the 
* For the nine mouths only, from April to December. 
