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An Examination of the Present State of the Grimsby Trawl Fishery, with especial reference to the Destruction of Immature Fish

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

Ernest W. L. Holt
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Extract

It will be within the recollection not only of the comparatively small section of the community which is consciously interested in fishery matters, but of all those whom a sense of public duty or a lack of other occupation compels to some acquaintance with the current topics of the day, that the question of the deterioration of our sea fisheries commenced some few years back to assume something approaching to prominence. One of the earlier indications of the importance with which the question was invested, in the minds of those principally concerned, was the formation, in 1882, by a number of fish merchants, smack-owners, and others, of the National Sea Fisheries Protection Association,—a title which may well be forgiven for its length, in consideration of the happy augury it holds out of the enduring nature of the Association's services to one of our most deserving industries.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 3 , Issue 5 , June 1895 , pp. 339 - 446
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1895

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References

page 340 note * Somewhat similar powers are possessed by District Fisheries Committees of the Country Councils in England, but each Council is independent of the others and, practically, of any central authority.

page 355 note * In “fleeting” the trawlers remain on the ground, and transfer their catches to carriers instead of returning to port themselves with the catch.

page 355 note † I gladly take this opportunity of saying that I have always found both owners and skippers most willing to give me a berth on board their boats, and have received the greatest possible kindness and assistance at sea.

page 358 note * Steam vessels.

page 358 note † The mouth of the trawl is formed above by the “beam” terminating in the “heads”or “irons,” and below by the heavily weighted “ground-rope.” From each “head” runs a “bridle;” the two “bridles” meet at the “shackle,” which is connected with the winch of the trawler by the “warp.”

page 361 note * Some boats have the two trawls fitted with different ground-ropes—one rather light, designed for the capture of haddock; the other weighted, for flat-fish.

page 375 note * Mr. Cunningham's paper (‘Journ. Marine Biol. Assoc.,’ N. S., iii, p. 154) deserves the closest attention in this connection, the more so since, as will appear later, his views differ slightly from my own.

page 377 note * I. e. the remains of ripe eggs.

page 380 note * Vide his paper, Journ. Marine Biol. Assoc., vol. iii, p. 64.

page 382 note * Mr. Cunningham's figures would appear to yield averages approximately as given in this column.

page 389 note * In explanation of the terms used in this chapter, it may be said that some fish deposit their spawn on the bottom; it is then termed “demersal.” In the case of other fish, the spawn floats to the top of the water, and is then called “pelagic.” When first hatched the little fish or “larvæ” appear to be always “pelagic,” i. e. swimming at the surface; in the case of flat-fish the pelagic larva undergoes a “metamorphosis” or change of shape into the flattened form, at or near the time when it adopts the habits of adult fish by sinking to the bottom.

page 389 note † See chart at the end of this paper.

page 390 note * The egg of the gurnard may, but does not invariably, sink some time before hatching. I do not know any other instance, unless the weaver can be called a food-fish.

page 391 note * Note added in press. Much valuable information as to the life-history of turbot and other flat-fish in the Cattegat, &c., will be found in Dr. Petersen's Report on the Danish Biological Station for 1893 (1894).

page 393 note * The halibut, witch, and megrim are the only North Sea flat-fish of any importance which regularly descend to great depths, and are thus “bathybial” in habit.

page 401 note * Large numbers of haddock about 5 inches long were cast up dead on the shores of the Humber after the gale of November, 1893. No other kinds of fish were noticed by myself on this occasion, the only one on which I have heard of the occurrence of a haddock in the estuary under any circumstances.

page 406 note * Totals previous to this date are taken from official returns.

page 408 note * Small plaice are always sold in “boxes,” whether derived from fleets or single-boaters.

page 409 note * N.S.F.P.A., Rep. Conference, 1892. p. 11.

page 421 note * For a detailed discussion of the Humber shrimp-trawling question vide Journal Mar. Biol. Assoc., vol. iii, p. 90.

page 422 note * If the hauls ever exceed an hour it is in contravention of the Committee's bye-law on the subject.

page 423 note * Except on muddy grounds, where shrimpers have no legitimate business.

page 442 note * On the Decrease of our Flat-fish Fisheries, Rep. Danish Biol. Stat., 1894, p. 62.