351 : BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
tarns to port having lost any of her crew whilst at sea. This inquiry, 
it seems to me, should be conducted by a competent authority, whose 
duty it would be to satisfy himself and place on record the manner in 
which the life was lost, whether by one of these preventable causes or 
not. For, at present the fact of a life being lost at sea is the only 
record which exists, no matter how it Occurred.” 
“ To sum up the advantages or otherwise of these two systems,” says 
the report of the Hull investigation, “ we are of opinion that the 4 single- 
boating’ system, whilst insuring to the men less hardship and possibly 
conducing to instruct them in a more perfect knowledge of their busi- 
ness as fishermen, is also productive of a great waste of fish. The 
fleeting system, on the contrary, is calculated to secure a more regular 
and continuous supply in a fresher state. We are not inclined to at- 
tach much importance to the argument that in ‘single boating’ there 
is less danger from the congregating together of a number of vessels. 
We have it in evidence that a great number of ‘single-boating’ vessels 
are found together, and we are of opinion that the fact of their then 
sailing each at his own will without the regularity insured by acting 
in concert, as in a fleet, is of itself an increased danger. A single 
boat getting mixed up with a fleet would have a similar effect. The 
danger of collision to these vessels has been shown by numerous wit- 
nesses to occur chiefly in fine weather and in the daytime, not owing to 
circumstances connected with ‘fleeting ’ per se , but to a habit amongst 
the skippers of visiting one another in such weather when trawling 
can not be carried on for want of wind, and leaving their smacks in 
charge of the boys. The same results may ensue when two or more 
single boats meet together under similar circumstances.” 
9. Care of Fish, “Boarding” Fish, etc. 
The various kinds of fish taken in trawls are classified under two 
general heads of “prime” and “offal,” while all other material, such as 
invertebrates, radiates, etc., receives the name of “scruff” or “sculsh.’? 
“ Prime” fish are the choicest varieties, which bring the highest price in 
market, such, for instance, as the sole, turbot, brill, and dory, while 
cheaper and less desirable species, such as haddock, gurnards, plaice, 
flounders, skate, etc., are called “ offal.” 
“Red mullet must be excepted, however,” says Holdsworth, “for, 
although not strictly coming under the head of ‘prime,’ they are what 
the Billingsgate salesmen look upon as ‘West End’ fish.” 
The fish are dressed, sorted, apd packed away as soon as is practica- 
ble after the trawl is taken up. As has been stated, the fish fall on deck 
from the cod-end in a slimy, struggling mass, and, if there be any sea, 
they go scurrying and sliding from side to side as the vessel rolls back 
and forth. The fishermen use ordinary clasp-knives, or what are us- 
ually termed “jack-knives,” of a large size, for dressing the catch, each 
