Science Series
Technical Report no.128
Catalogue of Defra
historical catch and effort
charts: six decades of
detailed spatial statistics
for British fisheries
G.H. Engelhard
Science Series
Technical Report no.128
Catalogue of Defra
historical catch and effort
charts: six decades of
detailed spatial statistics
for British fisheries
G.H. Engelhard
August 2005
This report should be cited as: Engelhard, G.H., 2005. Catalogue
of Defra historical catch and effort charts: six decades of detailed
spatial statistics for British fisheries. Sci. Ser. Tech. Rep., Cefas
Lowestoft, 128: 42pp.
© Crown copyright, 2005
This publication (excluding the logos) may be re-used free of
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Contents
1. Summary 5
2. Introduction 6
3. Source of the data
7
Chart format
8
4. 5. Overview of charts
10
5.1
5.1.1
5.1.2
5.1.3
5.1.4
5.1.5
5.1.6
5.1.7
5.2
5.2.1
5.2.2
5.3
5.3.1
Demersal charts – North Sea (IV) Steam trawlers – North Sea (IV)
Motor trawlers – North Sea (IV)
Sailing trawlers – North Sea (IV)
Steam Danish seiners (steam seiners) –
North Sea (IV)
Motor Danish seiners (motor seiners) –
North Sea (IV)
Steam liners – North Sea (IV)
Motor liners – North Sea (IV)
Demersal charts – Iceland and Faroe (V)
Steam and motor trawlers – Iceland (Va)
Steam and motor trawlers – Faroe (Vb)
Demersal charts – West of Scotland and
Rockall (VI)
Steam and motor trawlers – West of
Scotland and Rockall (VI)
11
11
14
16
5.4
5.4.1
5.4.2
5.4.3
5.5
5.5.1
5.5.2
5.5.3
5.5.4
5.6
5.6.1
5.6.2
5.6.3
Demersal charts – West of Ireland and
Channels (VII)
Motor trawlers – Irish Sea (VIIa)
Motor trawlers – West of Ireland and
Channels (VII)
Motor seiners – West of Ireland and
Channels (VII)
Pelagic charts – All regions
Pelagic charts – North Sea (IV)
Pelagic charts – Faroe (Vb)
Pelagic charts – West of Scotland and
Rockall (VI)
Pelagic charts – West of Ireland and
Channels (VII)
Miscellaneous charts
All fleets – All regions
Tonnage charts – North Sea
Scottish charts – Trawlers and seiners
32
32
32
32
33
6.
Perspectives
36
7.
Acknowledgements
38
8.
References
39
9.
Electronic appendix
42
29
29
29
31
31
31
31
31
18
20
22
24
25
25
27
29
29
1. Summary
1 SUMMARY
This report describes an inventory of over 37,000 historical
and previously uncatalogued ‘Statistical Charts’ that provide
detailed information on locations of catches landed by British
fishing vessels. For over 60 years (1913–81 except war years),
these charts were produced by the Directorate of Fisheries
Research, now the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and
Aquaculture Science (Cefas) Lowestoft, UK, where they are
also currently held. Each chart shows, for a specific region,
fleet component, and fish species, (1) the total quantity of
fish landed in England and Wales and/or Scotland; (2) the
average catch per 100 hours of fishing; and/or (3) the number
of hours fishing. These statistics are shown for each ICES
rectangle (1° longitude by 30' latitude) and combined for
the entire region. The charts show either monthly or annual
statistics, and comprise of 2,922 annual charts and 34,416
monthly charts. Regions and periods covered include: North
Sea (1913–81 excluding both World Wars), Iceland (1952–73),
Faroe (1946–80), West of Scotland and Rockall (1955–81),
West of Ireland and Channels (including Irish and Celtic
Sea, English and Bristol Channel: 1972–81). The majority of
charts focus on demersal landings; from 1977–81, pelagic
landings are also provided. The most complete region- and
fleet-specific time-series is that on ‘first-class steam trawlers’
in the North Sea (1913–76). Detailed information is provided
in this report on the temporal, regional, species and fleet
coverage of the ‘Statistical Charts’; searching is facilitated
by a set of electronic spread-sheets included. The history of
each fleet component is outlined, focusing on the periods and
regions where charts are available. Combined, these charts
provide a rich data source for analysing long-term, spatial
changes in fisheries and fish stocks, including possible effects
of environmental and anthropogenic factors.
2. Introduction
2 INTRODUCTION
Historical fisheries datasets are of key importance for studies
on long-term changes in fish stocks and fisheries, and on
the possible effects of environmental and anthropogenic
factors. Of particular usefulness are datasets collected in a
consistent way over a number of decades, especially if they
cover a large geographical area. However, such data are
relatively scarce, especially for earlier periods. Moreover,
much of the older information that there is, has remained
uncatalogued, and therefore largely been neglected. The
cataloguing of historical datasets is a first step towards
identifying what information is available, and towards
directing further research (for example, see Goodwin et
al. [2001] for a catalogue on logbooks from British marine
research vessels, covering the period 1904–1970).
The present report describes an inventory of over 37,000
unpublished historical ‘Statistical Charts’ held at the Centre
for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas),
Lowestoft, UK. These charts provide annual and monthly
fisheries statistics at a fine spatial scale for the period 1913–
81 (excluding both World Wars). More specifically, they show
the annual and monthly landings and catch rates per fish
species, and the fishing effort for various components of the
British commercial fishing fleet. These values are indicated
separately for each rectangle of 1° longitude by 30' latitude
(equivalent to ICES rectangles) as well as for the entire area
charted (generally equivalent to ICES fishing areas). The
largest subset of charts covers the North Sea (both preand post-war years); smaller but still substantial subsets of
charts cover the Faroe Grounds, Iceland, West of Scotland
and Rockall, the Irish and Celtic Seas and English Channel
(post-war years). The focus is on demersal fisheries, with
only a small proportion of charts devoted to pelagic fisheries.
Combined, this set of ‘Statistical Charts’ provides consistent,
standardised data over a considerable time-span, for Britain’s
former and current fishing grounds, covering an important
portion of the fishing history of this nation.
This report first outlines the original source information
of the charted data. Second, the general format of the
charts is described. Third, a detailed overview is given of
the temporal, spatial, species, and fleet coverage of the
charts, where the full series of charts is subdivided into
a small number of subsets according to fleet and region.
Reference is made to an on-line set of electronic spreadsheets that may facilitate searching what material is
available. Finally, locating individual charts is made possible
via reference numbers provided in both the report and
worksheets; these relate to the numbered box files, stored
at Cefas, that contain the actual charts.
3. Source of the data
extensive description of the early development of fisheries
statistics methodology; for a recent update see Appendix 2
of UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2003 (Defra, London, 2004).
Further processing and compiling of the data into charts
was carried out at the Directorate in Lowestoft, where
the rectangle-specific statistics on landings, catch rates,
and fishing effort were hand-written on pre-fabricated
blank chart outlines. To our knowledge, the majority
of the original charted material has not been published
before. However, subsets of the charts did form the basis
for various publications, including a number of papers in
Fishery Investigations, Series II (MAF, later MAFF, London).
For example, see Borley and Thursby-Pelham (1925, 1926);
Thursby-Pelham (1928, 1932); Graham (1934); and Gulland
(1961).
The data in the charts stem from the same original
source as those used for the annual series Sea Fisheries
Statistical Tables - England and Wales (now incorporated
in UK Sea Fisheries Statistics) produced by Defra and
its predecessors MAF and MAFF, and the Scottish
Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables (now Scottish Fisheries
Statistics) produced by SHD (SEERAD). However, both
these published ‘Statistical Tables’ series do not make any
mention or reference to the ‘Statistical Charts’ covered
in the present report and do not provide the geographical
detail provided by the charts.
The blank charts were produced by the Ordnance Survey,
Southampton, during the earlier decades (North Sea charts
before 1965), and later by the cartographic section of the
Directorate of Fisheries Research, Lowestoft (North Sea
charts after 1965 and all charts for other areas).
3 source of the data
The charts were compiled by scientists and their support staff
at the Directorate of Fisheries Research (DFR), which is the
predecessor of Cefas, Lowestoft. The Directorate originally
belonged to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF),
London, which later became the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food (MAFF); it is currently an Executive
Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra).
The charts were based on detailed commercial fisheries
statistics, collected by Ministry staff at fishing ports
throughout Britain. The systematic collection of sea
fisheries statistics was first undertaken in England and
Wales in 1886, but was originally confined to records of
the daily quantity and value of only 16 fish species landed.
This collecting system was significantly improved in 1906,
to include particulars of the fishing grounds visited and
the number of days absence from ports, as well as an
increased number of fish species. In 1913, information
on the time actually spent fishing was first collected as
a more accurate measure of fishing ‘effort’ than days
absence. From 1906–19, origins of landings were ascribed
to fairly broad depth-related regions in the North Sea; in
1920 the current system was adopted by which all landings
are attributed to rectangles of 1° longitude by 30' latitude
(strictly: attributed to those rectangles where at least 70%
of the landing was caught). From 1923–66 many charts
also included landings data for Scottish ports (some charts
show exclusively Scottish landings). These were collected
by the Scottish Home Department (SHD), Edinburgh,
now the Scottish Executive Environmental Rural Affairs
Department (SEERAD). Edser (1925) provides a fairly
4. Chart format
4 chart format
Figure 1 illustrates the typical format of the ‘Statistical
Charts’, in this case for the North Sea (ICES Sub-area IV).
The charts usually cover an entire ICES Sub-area or one
to several Divisions, although a small number of charts do
not match well with existing ICES fishing areas. The chart
format for the other geographic regions broadly agrees
with that illustrated here for the North Sea (see Section 5
for an overview of regions charted).
The charts provide either annual or monthly fisheries
statistics, which are indicated separately for each ICES
rectangle and usually also for the entire area. The specific
chart of Figure 1 provides landings and catch rates for
all kinds of demersal fish, captured in 1937 by British
‘first-class’ steam trawlers (see Section 5.1.1 for further
information on this fleet). Upper figures in each rectangle
show the quantity landed, lower figures show the average
catch per 100 hours fishing. The bottom right-hand corner
of the graph shows the global values for the entire North
Sea and, under ‘Rectangle unknown’, the quantity landed
that could not be assigned with reasonable confidence to
any one rectangle (see Edser [1925] and Graham [1934] for
details on assigning landings to specific rectangles).
Additional, separate charts show fishing effort as total
number of hours fished per rectangle and per region. In a
few charts, effort is quantified as the number of fishing
trips, or the number of days absence from ports.
It should be noted that for most of the period covered
by the charts, landings are shown in hundred-weight (cwt).
The imperial measurement system was replaced by the
metric system in 1973, whereafter the landings are shown
in metric tonnes. The conversion from cwt to metric
tonnes is as follows:
20 cwt = 1 ton (imperial), and
1 ton (imperial) = 1.016 tonne (metric), i.e.
1 cwt = 0.05080 tonne (metric).
It may also be noted that the numbering of rectangles
in the ‘Statistical Charts’ differs from the present ICES
numbering; this is illustrated in Figure 1. For example,
Amsterdam is located in rectangle J3 according to the
‘Statistical Charts’ notation, and in rectangle 33F4 according
to the ICES notation. Some of the charts produced after
1972 provide both rectangle notations (e.g. see Figure 20).
As the latitudes and longitudes are shown on all charts, this
should be no cause of confusion.
4 chart format
Figure 1. Example of ‘Statistical Chart’ for the North Sea, showing
landings and catch rates of total demersal fish by British first-class
steam trawlers in 1937. See text for explanation.
5 overview of charts
10
5. Overview of charts
This section describes regional, temporal, fleet, and
species coverage of the ‘Statistical Charts’, based on an
inventory carried out between October 2004 and February
2005. It includes all charts that could be recovered from
various archives at Cefas. The list, however, may not be
entirely complete for all statistical charts ever produced
at Cefas. For example, no pre-war charts were found on
North Sea brill and halibut distribution; but a paper by
Borley and Thursby-Pelham (1926) suggests that such
charts did exist. Neither were charts on distribution of
North Sea plaice sorted by size recovered; yet they are
referred to in another paper by these authors (Borley and
Thursby-Pelham, 1925). Even though the number of ‘lost’
charts is unknown, the overview given below is, by and
large, likely representative of the vast majority of charts
produced over the years.
Annual and monthly charts – In total, 37,338
‘Statistical Charts’ were recovered. Of these, 2,922 and
34,416 charts, respectively, provide annual and monthly
fisheries statistics (hereafter referred to as annual and
monthly charts).
Demersal and pelagic landings – About 95% of the
charts describe landings of demersal fish species, mainly
caught by trawlers and to a lesser extent by vessels
using Danish seine nets or long lines. Charts on demersal
species are available for the entire time-span 1913–1981
exluding both World Wars. A much smaller number of
‘pelagic charts’ (5% of all charts) describe landings of
pelagic species, available only for the years 1977–81.
These were caught by liners, motor trawlers, pair trawlers,
purse seiners and fixed nets. It may be mentioned that
the above division between ‘demersal’ and ‘pelagic’ charts
is not entirely strict: the former may sometimes include
recordings of pelagic species (herring, mackerel) if these
were caught in significant quantities by trawlers targeting
demersal fish.
Regions – Table 1 describes the regions charted, with
temporal coverage and number of charts per region. All
recovered charts before WWII cover the North Sea. The
statistical chart system was extended in 1946 to include
the Faroes (ICES Division Vb), in the 1950s to include
Iceland (Division Va) and the area ‘West of Scotland and
Rockall’ (Sub-area VI), and in the 1970s to include the area
‘West of Ireland and Channels’ (Sub-area VII). About 2000
charts from the 1960s labeled ‘Scottish charts’, probably
not produced at Cefas but at Fisheries Research Services
(FRS), Aberdeen, cover an area around Scotland and the
Faroes not corresponding well with definitions of ICES
fishing areas.
Country – All charts show landings by British-registered
vessels exclusively. However, the country into which
landings were made may either be England and Wales;
England and Scotland; Scotland only; or for some of
the earliest charts, England only (there are no charts on
landings in Northern Ireland). Table 2 provides an overview.
Note that North Sea statistical charts initially only covered
landings in England, from 1923–66 landings in England
and Scotland, thereafter landings in England and Wales.
Table 1. Overview of charted regions, including temporal coverage
and numbers of annual and monthly charts available per region.
Region
ICES notation
Temporal coverage
North Sea
IV
1913
1920–39
1947–81
All years
5
1,290
893
2,188
60
11,929
10,963
22,952
Iceland
Faroe
Va
Vb
1952–73
1946–80
70
177
1,496
2,154
West of Scotland and Rockall
VI
1955–81
310
3,606
Irish Sea
West of Ireland and Channels
VIIa
VII
1972–76
1977–81
45
124
540
1,489
Seas around Scotland and Faroe
IV (pt.), Vb, VIa
1961–66
0
2,111
1925–30
8
68
2,922
34,416
North-east Atlantic
All regions
Annual charts
Monthly charts
Table 2. Country into which landings were made, as mentioned on
‘Statistical Charts’, for different regions of capture, including temporal
coverage. All landings were made by British vessels exclusively
11
Country
Temporal coverage
North Sea
England
England and Scotlanda
England and Wales
Scotland
1913, 1920–22
1923–38, 1947–66
1961, 1965–81
1966–67
Iceland
England and Wales
Scotland
1952–73
1957–60
Faroe
England and Wales
Scotland
1946–81
1955–60
West of Scotland and Rockall
England and Wales
1955–81
Irish Sea
England and Wales
1972–76
West of Ireland and Channels
England and Wales
1977–81
Seas around Scotland and Faroe
Scotland
1961–66
a
5 overview of charts
Region
Possibly more strictly, ‘England, Scotland and Wales’, on the grounds that British fisheries statistics
are conventionally reported jointly for England and Wales (and separately for Scotland). However, the
fraction of British catches from the North Sea landed in Wales was probably negligible.
5.1 Demersal charts – North Sea (IV)
5.1.1 Steam trawlers – North Sea (IV)
General – This is the most complete fleet- and regionspecific time-series, specifically referring to the British
‘first-class’ (i.e., 15 tons gross and over) steam trawl fleet.
Steam power had first been used in British sea fisheries
as early as the 1850s and 1860s, in the form of paddle
vessels, although these initial attempts proved commercially
unsuccessful. It was in the 1880s that the steam trawling
industry really took off (Figure 2), following the arrival of
the first purpose-built steam screw trawlers in Scarborough
(1881), Grimsby (1881) and Hull (1885); these vessels caught
about 4 times as much as a sailing trawler (Garstang 1900).
The industry grew very rapidly in the following years.
This was aided by the introduction and wide use of otter
trawls on steam trawlers in the 1890s, replacing the beam
trawl which previously had been adopted from the sailing
trawler. In the otter trawl, two comparatively small ‘otter
boards’, functioning as under-water kites, achieved and
maintained the spread of the net, making the large and
cumbersome beam of the old beam trawl obsolete. Not
only was the otter trawl more efficient in catching large
aggregations of fish than the beam trawl at that time in
use (by a factor of 1.37 as estimated by Garstang [1900];
see also Lee 1915), but it could moreover much more
conveniently be stowed aboard ship. By 1898 otter trawls
were adopted on virtually all steam trawlers.
1600
Number
1200
800
400
0
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
Figure 2. Rise and fall of steam trawling in England and Wales,
1880–1980. The graph shows numbers of first-class steam trawlers
on the Register of British Sea Fishing Boats on 31 December of each
year. Temporary drops in numbers during both World Wars are mainly due to vessels employed in War Service. Data for 1939–44 include an
unknown but relatively small number (<70) of motor trawlers. Data
for 1889–98 from Garstang (1900).
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
12
5 overview of charts
2000000
Number of hours fished
Sailing trawlers
Steam trawlers
1500000
Motor trawlers
1000000
500000
0
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
Figure 3. Trends in the number of hours fished in the North Sea
by steam, motor, and sailing trawlers, 1923–1982 (British trawlers
landing in England and Wales only). Note subsequent declines of
sailing and steam trawling effort and rise of motor trawling effort;
and very strong reduction in effort during WWII (no data for 1939–40).
An important modification to the otter trawl, the
Vigneron-Dahl gear, was first introduced in 1923 and was
in general use by 1926; it may have improved the fishing
efficiency of otter trawls by a factor of 1.42 (Bowman
1932). This modification consisted of lengths of steal
cable, introduced between each otter board and the net,
with the effect of increasing the spread of the otter boards
and collecting fish from a greater area of the sea floor into
the path of the net; it also allowed a reduction in the size
and hence resistance of the net (Graham 1956).
From the onset of the twentieth century until the late
1950s, steam trawlers comprised the most important
component of the British fishing fleet in the North Sea, in
terms of both landings and hours spent fishing (Figure 3). In
most of these years, steam trawlers landed at least 80% of
Britain’s entire catch. There was, however, a general decline
in steam trawling effort over much of that period (e.g., ~2.8
million hours fished in 1923, ~1 million hours fished in 1950,
~500,000 hours fished in 1959). Furthermore, landings and
effort were strongly reduced during both World Wars, partly
because vessels were lost due to hostilities, and partly
because a large number of vessels were requisitioned by
the Royal Navy to be employed in War Service (cf. Figure
2). Still, steam trawling recovered twice very quickly in the
years immediately following both wars.
Originally, all steam trawlers burnt coal. Oil-fired steam
trawlers were introduced in 1946; still driven by steam,
these vessels replaced coal with a fuel much easier and
cleaner to handle, less bulky, and at the time still relatively
cheap. Soon after, all new steam trawlers were being built
with oil burners and many old coal burners were being
converted. Generally oil burners had a short lifespan due to
competition with motor trawlers. In the post-war decades,
1
technical innovations made diesel engines increasingly
efficient and compact, leading to a gradual increase of the
motor trawl fleet, which by 1960 had outgrown the steam
trawl fleet. Steam trawling thereafter declined increasingly
rapidly. The last landings from the North Sea, by steam
vessels fishing from Hull and Grimsby, were in 19761.
Summaries of the methods and history of British steam
trawlers are provided by Graham (1956) and Robinson
(2000b); for Hull and Grimsby specifically see Thompson
(1989) and King and Pulfrey (1991).
Temporal coverage – Charts on North Sea steam
trawlers are available for 1913, 1920–39, and 1947–67. No
charts are available for 1968 and 1971–74 although there
was limited steam trawling effort in the North Sea in these
years. For 1975–76, statistics on North Sea steam trawling
are included in the statistical charts for North Sea motor
trawlers (Section 5.1.2).
Spatial coverage – The charts provide good coverage
of most of the North Sea from 1923–1961 (Figure 4).
From 1962 onwards, the area trawled by steam trawlers
contracted strongly.
Species coverage – See Table 3 for an overview. The
initial charts (before 1923) are limited to a few species.
Charts from 1923–1959 cover a wide range of demersal
species (e.g. 23 species in 1923, 29 species in 1959). From
1960 until the end of the series, only selected species were
recorded (brill, cod, dogfish, haddock, hake, lemon soles,
plaice, saithe, skates and rays, soles, turbot, whiting).
Number of charts – 862 annual charts, 9776 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – See boxes 1–32 for the years
1923–67; boxes 40–41 for 1975–76; and box 87 for 1913
and 1920–22.
The last steam trawlers fished mainly in distant waters, especially Iceland, and more occasionally in the North Sea. Northern
Sceptre (GY297), of 804 tons gross, appears to have been the very last to survive. After having been laid up for two years she left
Grimsby in September 1977, to be scrapped in February 1979 (King and Pulfrey, 1991).
13
22
70
530
20
432
1569 1549
1927
803 12397 602
331
4080 1680 6998
132
210
2185 3194 7313 3504 2182
514
891
1762 6242 5275 4300 5260 1318
765
87
3538 7708 4353 2663 7825 2154
135
19
56
2824 3324 1220 4002 6542 1416 1523
329
1123 4976 1740 5927 6307 1072 1249 5617
82
18
448
3444 12374 8954 5611 6348 1360
1362
2013 2334 9988 12533 6665 1925 1057
468
516
17
8535 2313 14025 9592 4617 13058 2210 7134 2808
2756 4684 13107 11506 14843 7276 4000
564
8724
16
1793 5515 15816 24923 7668 29598 8195 5327
884
93
386
15
9713 15339 9586 9203 26841 15865 12194 1885 2619
14
502 18169 13574 18447 19470 13156 14802 20095 3903
6056 21328 16711 27226 16977 6089 3155 2054
54
322
1493
13
43350 18205 5647 10487 12836 20843 9461 2857 4818 7295
12
11
10
140 40721 25816 15745 4888 14805 11417 22083 32847 23461 25095
9
27715 29574 6582 33971 10872 16845 62627 11787 12357 11092
8
3231 52318 30812 37949 13603 40167 54458 12811 7471 4463
7
5178 59119 68135 98567 30328 31093 9152 2516 4819
6
64797 91081136064 34351 19768 22653 2782
5
11663 86164 61808 13106 2109
4
2464 37759 17028 346
3
17781 3764
14403 15863 16099 29586 5787 3163 1738
41418 24052 8335 7836 4913
720
2718
972
108
962
2528
406
10113 26709 11154 8809 11626 10287 21654 5677 4989 8968 5428
20045 28041 17924 7998 5287 2386 3183
728
1446 6909 2242
59527 64024 18092 8037 8988 5196 29975 23065 16371 18217 10625
30498 37162 19125 4121 2192 1663 2344
236
224
84
91
9939 73729 61341 80901 24183 25181 15005 5610 9982
908
13881 86597 21686 9663
1121 2708 2618
929
395
258 11807 1358
132
264
2995
706
210
935
140
112
156
645
402
1454 6201 2618
916
1281
147
18
66
489
1905 4269
3540
488
17
7008
324
4855 1555 2113 5680 2579 4961
16
2649 5208 4237 3666 4691 5202 10213
15
2283
14
172
13
6
953
1701
1947
549
266
391
732
1729 8299 3942 4120
8535 1766 3965 4129
75
613
1084
1957
10353 4713 1726 5655
60
7254 3568 1977 2967 1818
561
5020
806
1634 4110
301
996
6170 1761 7639
625
1337 1020
84
344
10859 466
182
175
417
2601 2255
288
3085 10834 517
272
1688
108
3241
766
5620 1139
320
5036
414
1458
742
84
147
838
873
114
534
158
350
932
486
435
1536
126
23844 414
690
15
105
524
390
14636 14067 2597 1580 1297
1787 2543 1716
25
140
419
21561 28657 3481 3388
750
2745 1192
474
12
3815 20034 6655 4286 1452
2019 7394 5481
207
6152 21204 2512 5905 1744
320
4006
11
9501 20478 8245 9449 3391 4122 3141 6009 2076
105
8052 12358 1648 3306 2203
740
383
1357 6840 2577 1733 1462
429
502
576
210
182
404 15207 9694 9877 1244
328
6455 1635 17588 292
10
48
13325 19597 3286
496
179
759
818 120155 18127 220
14734 195
21
819
135
150
9
5199 9023 6723 21813 1021
771 12262
8
634 13888 18962 21391 2376
216
224
5173 1182 2827
7
10062 26415 20653 83569 12436 20796 1668
6
22582 28108 54451 24308 20198 11647
5513 5496 5564
525 44347 20507 22948 13467
1529 10738 3503
311
34614 20926 2139
1999
191
12777 1323
1169
220 10148
1
7632
498
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
624
156
51
456
240
192
310
K
L
M
13832 21921 10221 2452
4
2
900
2553 44581 25069 32748 1566 2428
5
3
110
23856 52123 97122 33295 7232 15512 6660 1339
375
18135 528
1039
6773
1096 36693 23012 27589 4336 10788 20197 13969 5173 9552 1650
1
96
833
24334 19853 4443 38019 4318 3970 22504 1481 11918 17960 4027
7190 40698
22
5120 13917
35743 25869 7142 2166 7400 2394 1752 1613 1818 5985
7423 22017
19
381
1038 44425 18037 18785 12962 4193 1654 4257 1416
2
20
1937
5 overview of charts
21
1734
1977
H
J
K
L
M
N
A
B
C
D
E
120
120
F
G
H
Figure 4. Distribution of British steam trawling effort over the North Sea in 1927, 1937, 1947, and 1957.
Effort is expressed as total number of hours fished by British first-class steam trawlers landing in
England and Scotland. Shadings indicate low (<1,000 hr, light), moderate (1,000-10,000 hr, darker) or
high (>10,000 hr, darkest); white indicates absence of British steam trawling in corresponding rectangle.
J
N
Number
5 overview of charts
14
800
All 'first-class' motor trawlers
600
At least 70 ft
At least 80 ft
400
200
0
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
Figure 5. Trends in numbers of first-class motor trawlers on the
Register of British Sea Fishing Boats on 31 December, 1912–89
(England and Wales only). Black symbols include all first-class motor
trawlers, defined from 1912–54 as having at least 15 tons gross,
and from 1955 onwards as having at least 40 feet length (no data
before 1912, for 1939–44 and 1948–51). Grey and white symbols show
numbers of motor trawlers of at least 70 feet (1948–61) and 80 feet
(1962–89), respectively.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘ChartsIV.xls’.
Remarks – No pre-WWII charts providing fishing effort
(hours fished by rectangle) were found. For 1924–37, see
e.g. Raitt (1939) for global data on hours fished in the
North Sea by British steam trawlers landing in England
and Scotland.
During 1913 and 1920–22, the first years in which data
on the number of hours fished per rectangle were collected
by Ministry staff, it was only possible to obtain such
information for a subset of all first-class vessels landing
in England and Wales. In 1913 the subset represented
approximately 10% of all landings by first-class steam
trawlers. In 1920 the “number of hours during which the
trawl or Danish seine was actually in use was obtained for
a considerable proportion of the voyages”; this proportion
was further increased in the following years and was over
90% by 1923 (Edser, 1925)2.
5.1.2 Motor trawlers – North Sea (IV)
General – Statistical charts on landings by motor
trawlers from the North Sea are available for two distinct
periods, 1924–32 and 1956–81. In the pre-war period,
England’s motor trawl fleet was small and, within the North
Sea, confined to ~30–40 vessels active in the southernand westernmost parts (fairly extensive motor trawling also
occurred in Sub-area VII, mostly in the English Channel).
Early motor trawlers were often converted sailing craft
with small petrol or petrol-paraffin combustion engines
installed. The size of England’s motor trawl fleet was fairly
stable throughout the inter-war years, but increased rapidly
in the three decades following WWII (Figure 5). This was
chiefly due to the introduction of marine diesel engines
2However,
from the late 1940s onwards, which were more efficient
and compact than steam engines, allowing significant
savings on space. Diesel engines were, however, initially
more expensive to install, and required several auxiliary
motors to drive trawling and steering gear (Robinson,
2000b). The first diesel-electric trawlers, with engines
capable of driving both propulsion and auxiliary systems,
appeared in the 1950s. The various technical innovations
led to the motor trawl fleet gradually replacing the steam
trawl fleet, operating in an increasingly large part of the
North Sea as well as in distant waters (Figure 3, 6).
The size and power of motor trawl vessels generally
increased after the war. Nevertheless, motor trawlers
remained on average considerably smaller than steam
trawlers, although to a lesser extent in distant waters
than in the North Sea. Accordingly, the catch rates of
motor trawlers tended to be lower than those of steam
trawlers for the same years. Since the 1960s, the fraction
of smaller-sized (40–80 feet length) motor trawlers again
increased (Figure 5); the present motor trawl fleet consists
of relatively few large and many small (albeit powerful)
vessels.
Two definition changes need to be mentioned. First,
the definition of motor trawlers differs between the earlier
and later time-series. Statistical charts for 1924–32 refer to
first-class motor trawlers, including all vessels of at least 15
tons gross. This definition was later changed: “As from 1st
January, 1955, the division of classes of fishing vessels is
based on registered length. Those classified as 40 ft and
over in these tables are the vessels formerly described as
first-class vessels of 15 gross tons and over” (Sea Fisheries
Statistical Tables 1955 [MAFF, London, 1956]).
a note on the folder containing charts for 1921 (landings in England only) states that these charts were “based on D2
returns covering all fishing by 1st class steam trawlers” (author unknown).
15
1927
22
1957
231
120
9920
589
342
777
304
786
384
420
1330
255
165
19
45
367
83
38
213
585
168
18
205
237
471
413
216
78
17
1537
153
424
669
16
50
20
15
522
333
14
13
260
390
624
30
10
806
72
393
28
52
211
234
669
12
222
1374
11
286
900
10
23
9
27
1150
1130
185
5 overview of charts
21
139
99
75
339
364
981
108
12429 739
261
240
120
110
1113 9105
551
150
8
2904
611
156
100 18963 1701 3211
7
642
7508 3398 30105 23933 3408 3001 2030 1357
6
137
5
33
3153 1476
4
3
260
656
444
132
484
1
3668
45
5860
102
4248 3281
20
120
360
579
19
625
2366
141
18
6938
607
955
17
4639
16
77
495
137
15
14
180
13
180
12
290
301
48
114
1134
2489
11
1977
203
635
806
24
368
9326 2822
66
321
7043
249
958
119
150
615
2602
2779
48
522
865
8671
91
84
514
781
120
4371 5468
21
2469
995
65
209
391
58
169
12
42
169
188
3
331
4166
10
864
8054 9378 24538
2423
10679 190
799 39265 3094
129
6021 1296
36
1680
39
8
7117
168
26
44
1232
75
48
28
29107 6972 35132 120
80
325 13230 4395 12427 8417
479
8
15593 15700 4855 6698 9552
33982 58914 37486 52866 12679 495
6
20756 15480 18900 18743 339
5
2552 17042 4866
4
388
3554
3
1818
294
2
3021
5162
417
932 36632 1546 17884 191
7
F
430
6911
157
389 10031 495
2256
235
523
13660 29980 10864 2618 1093 3811 31857
1157
26655 28933 8109 11405 8082
59
220
2090 1408 5615
6015 1626
86
104
1456 1135
E
2
693
495
168
399
5188 2053
6923
30042 11542 3922 10428 4103 1277 5020
257
1560 10134
D
54
1311
2674
C
215
402
21159 1039 1392 14313 7777 2624 1925 1272
B
680
668
267
9
A
45
20379 6267 17848 211
291
10
1
175
4178 7942
53
120
828
100
9214 2494
1967
135
126
11669 364
22
21
168
1182 16511 11720 147
6847 20615 770
714
2
1304
152
246
430
268
2130
7671
162
7662
319
263 11354
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
A
B
C
D
E
F
Figure 6. Distribution of British motor trawling effort over the North Sea in 1927 (vessels landing
in England only), 1957 (vessels landing in England and Scotland), 1967 and 1977 (vessels landing in
England only). Effort is expressed as total number of hours fished by rectangle. Shadings indicate
low (<1,000 hr, light), moderate (1,000-10,000 hr, darker) or high (>10,000 hr, darkest) effort in
corresponding rectangle.
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
5 overview of charts
16
Second, 1956–81 charts apparently refer to ‘deep sea
landings’3. Until 1959 these included only “catches made
by vessels over 40 feet length where the voyages had
exceeded 72 hours’ duration”. From 1960 onwards these
included “catches of all vessels of 40 feet and over in
length, whether or not from voyages of over 72 hours’
duration” (Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables 1960 [MAFF,
London, 1961]).
Temporal coverage – 1924–32 and 1956–81. Note
changes in the country of landing recorded: 1924–32,
England; 1956–66, England and Scotland; 1961 and 1966–
81, England and Wales; 1966–67, Scotland.
Spatial coverage – See Figure 6. For 1924–32 the
spatial coverage is limited; in these years, English motor
trawlers were restricted to the southern- and westernmost
parts of the North Sea. Charts from 1957–66, including
landings in both England and Scotland, provide good
coverage of most of the North Sea. Charts from 1966–81,
including landings in England and Wales only, provide good
coverage of the southern and central North Sea, but only
moderate coverage of the northern North Sea. The fraction
of the North Sea covered by British motor trawlers in the
1960s and 1970s was, generally speaking, less extensive
than that covered by British steam trawlers during the
inter-war years, late 1940s and 1950s.
Species coverage – See Table 3. In pre-war years, ~15
species were recorded, providing a more or less complete
picture. For the period 1956–81, only ~8 selected species
were recorded on charts over longer time-spans.
Number of charts – 370 annual charts, 4569 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Boxes 33–42.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘ChartsIV.xls’.
5.1.3 Sailing trawlers – North Sea (IV)
General – Statistical charts on North Sea landings
by English first-class sailing trawlers are available for a
relatively short period (1924–32) almost at the end of
the era of trawling by sail. First-class sailing trawlers are
here defined as vessels over 15 tons net tonnage, and
are commonly known as smacks. The typical net used on
sailing trawlers was the beam trawl (Davis, 1927; Graham,
1956).
The sailing trawl industry in the North Sea had previously
grown rapidly during the late eighteenth and most of the
3‘Deep
nineteenth century (see Robinson [2000a] for an overview of
the history, and Mackinson [2001] for a focus on the 1880s).
The prosperity was partly a result of the industrial revolution,
the consequent increase in Britain’s population and, through
the construction of the railway network, the opening up of
inland markets for selling fish products. Trawling by sail in
the North Sea peaked in the 1870s, but thereafter received
strong competition from steam trawlers (Figure 3). The latter
were not subject to the mercies of the wind, could roam
further, trawl at considerably greater depths and tow fast
enough to use an otter trawl, which was a more effective
gear than the beam trawl used at that period. As a result,
steam trawlers generally attained far greater catch rates
than sailing craft (Garstang, 1900; Davis, 1927; Graham,
1956).
Sailing trawling in the North Sea only survived well into
the twentieth century in the relatively shallow, southern
waters (Division IVc) and by focusing on species with high
market value such as sole, brill and turbot. Both World
Wars had additional, negative effects on the sailing trawl
fleet: the number of first-class sailing trawlers in England
and Wales declined from 798 in 1914 to 385 in 1918; of the
41 vessels that remained in 1937, only a single remained
active in 1946. During the last decades of this industry,
Lowestoft was the main port of landing for the majority of
sailing trawlers fishing in the North Sea.
Temporal coverage – 1924–32.
Spatial coverage – The activity of English first-class
sailing trawlers during the inter-war years was almost
exclusively restricted to the southern North Sea (Division
IVc) and a few adjacent rectangles (Figure 7). This region
was, however, trawled fairly extensively so that the spatial
coverage within Division IVc is good.
Species coverage – See Table 3. A comparison with
Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables shows that the species
coverage is complete.
Number of charts – 153 annual charts, 1547 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Boxes 43–45.
Spreadsheet reference – 'ChartsIV.xls'.
Remark – Charts for 1924–25 mention ‘England and
Scotland’ as countries of landing; however, a comparison
with Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables, 1924 and 1925 (MAF,
London, 1925 and 1926) indicates that all charted landings
were in England.
sea landings’ as opposed to ‘inshore landings’. Until 1959, inshore landings were defined as all “catches by second and
third-class vessels, and by first-class vessels, other than Steam Trawlers, which make voyages of not exceeding 72 hours duration”
(e.g. Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables 1950 [MAF, London]. From 1960 onwards, inshore landings included all “landings by vessels
under 40 feet in length” regardless of voyage duration (Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables 1960 [MAFF, London]).
17
Table 3. Species monitored in ‘Statistical Charts’ for North Sea trawlers,
with indication of temporal coverage per species.
Motor trawlers
Sailing trawlers
Hours fishing
1913, 1947–67a
1924–32, 1966–67,
1977–81
1924–32
Bream
1923–59
Brill
1925, 1929, 1947–66a
1924–32, 57–81
1924–32
Catfish
1923–59
Cod
1913, 1921, 1923–67
1924–32, 56–81
1924–32
Conger eels
1923–59
1924–32b
1924–32
Dabs
1923–58
1924–32
1924–32
1924–32
Dabs, long rough
1959
Dabs, other
1959
Dogfish
1923–67
1924–32
Dory
1925–57b
1928
Flounders (flukes)
1923–59
1924–27, 1929–32
1924–32
Gurnards and latchets
1935–59
1924–32
1924–32
Gurnards
1923–34
Latchets (tubs)
1923–34
Haddock
1923–67
1924–30, 1957–81
1924–27, 1929–30
Hake
1923–67
1925, 1929, 1957–80
1929–30
Halibut
1929, 1957–59c
1928–29
Lemon soles
1923–67
1924–32
1924–32
Ling
1929, 1957–59c
1925, 1928, 1932
1927, 1929
Megrims
1923–59
1928
Monks (anglers)
1923–59
1924–29, 1931–32
Mullet, grey
1957–59
Mullet, red
1927–59
Norway pout
1924–26, 1928, 1931
1977
Plaice
1913, 1921, 1923–67
1924–32, 57–81
1924–32
Pollack
1923–59
1928
1931
Redfish
1935–59
Saithe (coalfish)
1923–67
Sandeels
1929, 1977–81
1977–78, 1980
Skates and rays
1923–67
1924–32
1924–32
Soles
1923–66
1924–32, 56–81
1924–32
Torsk (tusk)
1923–59
Turbot
1947–67a
1924–32, 57–81
1924–32
Whiting
1923–67
1924–32, 57–81
1924–32
Witches
1923–59
Livers of fish
1959
Roes of fish
1959
Other kinds and mixed
1947–59
Total demersal fish
1913–22, 1934–67
Herringsd
1923–33
Mackereld
1923–33
1925
Total wet fishd
1923–33
1924–32
a For
1957–81
1924, 1929
1924–32
steam trawlers in 1923–39, charts on hours fished, brill, and turbot were not recovered, but may well
have existed (cf. Borley and Thursby-Pelham, 1926)
b Generally caught in low quantities, hence not recorded for all years
c For steam trawlers in 1923–28 and 1930–56, charts on halibut and ling were not recovered, but may well
have existed (cf. Borley and Thursby-Pelham, 1926)
d Pelagic species (herrings, mackerel) occasionally caught by trawlers were included between 1923–33,
excluded in other years
5 overview of charts
Steam trawlers
18
1924
5 overview of charts
22
1932
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
53
5
20
40
65808 9385
75
235
72555 4645
7756 57860 8621
3
3429 99859 89892
1520 65735 11285
2
2267 72775 2091
1035 29821 3040
1
8718 5903
657
377
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
900
80
4
J
2472 49520 2640
K
L
M
N
A
B
C
D
E
H
190
J
K
L
M
N
Figure 7. Distribution of effort by British sailing trawlers in the North Sea in 1924 and 1932. Effort is
expressed as number of hours fished by first-class sailing trawlers landing in England only. Shadings
indicate low (<1,000 hr, light), moderate (1,000-10,000 hr, darker) or high (>10,000 hr, darkest) effort in
corresponding rectangle.
5.1.4 Steam Danish seiners
(steam seiners) – North Sea (IV)
General – These charts, available only for inter-war
years, refer to English first-class steam vessels (i.e., at
least 15 tons gross) exclusively applying the ‘Danish seine’
for catching fish. This gear, also referred to as ‘demersal
seine’ or chiefly ‘seine’, is used to catch species of
groundfish, generally in shallower waters than otter trawls
(up to about 200 m). It is a convenient way of fishing
from relatively small vessels of about 40–75 feet length
(Graham, 1956). Danish seines essentially resemble other
seines in surrounding the fish, but are also dragged over
the bottom. The method involves a vessel laying two
weighted ropes on the seabed over about one to a few
kilometres, with the net in the centre forming a pear- or
diamond-shaped configuration. The two ropes are then
recovered and drawn together onto the vessel; the rope
movement herds bottom-dwelling fish into the path of the
net. While hauling, the vessel may either remain in a fixed
position or move forward (see Graham [1956] and Borley
and Thursby-Pelham [1925] for descriptions of Danish
seining in British fisheries).
The method originally evolved in Denmark. English
fishermen, possibly impressed by the success of Danish
seining for plaice and haddock during WWI, adopted
the gear in 1921, mainly on steam vessels (Borley
and Thursby-Pelham, 1925). The effort of steam Danish
seiners rose very rapidly in the following few years (e.g.,
1921: 356 landings from the North Sea into England; 1923:
5447 landings). After 1924, however, steam seining in the
North Sea declined again (e.g., 1932: 639 landings; 1950:
31 landings), until it ceased in the late 1950s. Long-term
trends in the numbers of Danish seiners registered in
England and Wales are illustrated in Figure 8.
Temporal coverage – 1924–32, partly coinciding
with the heydays of steam seining in the North Sea.
Unfortunately, statistical charts for 1929 were found to be
missing.
Spatial coverage – See Figure 9. Good coverage of
the central North Sea (Division IVb), moderate coverage of
the southern North Sea (IVc). There was very little steam
seining in the, relatively deep, northern North Sea (IVa). The
coverage of Division IVb was especially good from 1924–28
(~70–80% of rectangles), but contracted during 1930–32
(~40% of rectangles). Steam seining especially centrated
on the Doggerbank and its surroundings.
19
250
Number
5 overview of charts
Steam seiners
200
Motor seiners
150
100
50
0
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
Figure 8. Trends in numbers of first-class steam and motor Danish
seiners which were on the Register of British Sea Fishing Boats on 31
December, 1924–89 (England and Wales; data for 1939–44 and 1948–51
partly lacking). No data prior to 1924, when Danish seiners were
recorded with trawlers.
Table 4. Species monitored in ‘Statistical Charts’ for North Sea
seiners, with indication of temporal coverage per species.
aa
Steam seiners
Motor seiners
Hours fishing
1924–28, 1930–32
1924–28, 1930–32, 1958, 1960a
Brill
1924–28, 1930–32
1924–25, 1927–28, 1930–32, 1965–81
Catfish
1924–28, 1930–32
1924–28, 1930–32
Cod
1924–28, 1930–32
1924–28, 1930–32, 1956–81
Conger eels
1924–25
1927
Dabs
1924–28, 1930–32
1924–28, 1930–32
Dogfish
1924–28, 1930–32
1928, 1930–32
Flounders (flukes)
1924, 1926, 1928, 1930,
1932
1928
Gurnards
1924–28, 1930–32
1924, 1930–32
Haddock
1924–28, 1930–32
1924–28, 1930–32, 1957–81
Hake
1924–28, 1930–32
1924, 1926, 1930, 1977–81
Halibut
1924–28
1924–25
Latchets (tubs)
1924–25, 1927–28
Lemon soles
1924–28, 1930–32
1924–28, 1930–32
Ling
1924–28, 1930–32
1931–32
Megrims
1924–25, 1928, 1930–31
Monks (anglers)
1924–28, 1930–32
1926–28, 1930–32
Plaice
1924–28, 1930–32
1924–28, 1930–32, 1957–81
Pollack
1924–27
Saithe (coalfish)
1924–28, 1931
1926, 1976–81
Skates and rays
1924–28, 1930–32
1924–28, 1930–32
Soles
1924–28, 1930–32
1928, 1930, 1976–81
Torsk (tusk)
1925
Turbot
1924–28, 1930–32
1924–28, 1930–32, 1965–81
Whiting
1924–28, 1930–32
1924–28, 1930–32, 1957–81
Witches
1924–28, 1930–32
1924–27, 1931–32
Total demersal fish
Herringsb
1957, 1959–81
1924, 1925, 1928
Mackerelb
Total wet fishb
a
b
1924
1924–28, 1930–32
1924–28, 1930–32
For 1956–81, further charts on hours fished were not recovered, but may well have existed
Pelagic species (herrings, mackerel) occasionally caught by seiners were included between 1923–33,
excluded in other years
20
1924
5 overview of charts
22
1932
21
20
19
18
17
140
16
80
15
838
14
30
13
50
12
6
11
45
90
200
142
1376 1657
703
42
135
19
90
61
193
1680
851
70
92
307
1757
597
1591 1706 4507
10
1415
9
32
434
869
1681 1141 7197 18471 14426 7350
90
275
63
51
1029
37
228
400
1617
63
165
778
3267
956
484
456
6119 5837 1086
76
632
7899 32461 31909 26316 974
8
90
950
4738 28573 41171 16635 569
7
24
178
2047 15621 16963 4431
37
150
392
2699 1997
349
543
1934 4315 1767
54
142
96
1191 6641
138
6
5
45
4
194
103
117
70
2610
1193
268
90
126
48
157
G
H
2409
246
3
2
1
A
B
C
D
E
F
J
K
L
M
N
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
Figure 9. Distribution of effort by British steam seiners in the North Sea in 1924 and 1932. Effort
is expressed as number of hours fished by all first-class vessels landing in England only. Shadings
indicate low (<1,000 hr, light), moderate (1,000-10,000 hr, darker) or high (>10,000 hr, darkest) effort in
corresponding rectangle.
Species coverage – See Table 4. A comparison with
Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables shows that the species
coverage is complete.
Number of charts – 194 annual charts, 1485 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Boxes 46–49.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘ChartsIV.xls’.
Remarks – Although charts for 1924–25 mention
‘England and Scotland’ as countries of landing, a comparison
with Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables, 1924 and 1925 (MAF,
London, 1925 and 1926) indicates that all charted landings
were in England.
A single chart was recovered, showing the number of
voyages by steam seiners to ICES rectangles in the North
Sea, for the year 1921 (landings in England and Wales only).
5.1.5 Motor Danish seiners
(motor seiners) – North Sea (IV)
General – Charts on motor vessels applying the Danish
seine are available for 1924–32 and 1956–81 (the terms
‘motor Danish seiners’ and ‘motor seiners’, respectively,
being used in these two periods). Already in 1921, when
the Danish seine was first used by British fishermen,
this gear was applied on board a small number of motor
boats. Nevertheless, motor seining in the North Sea
remained fairly unimportant during the 1920s; steam
seiners made up for the vast majority of seine landings in
these years. This changed in the 1930s and the post-war
decades, when the importance of motor seining increased
steadily (Figure 8). The success of the motor seiner was
aided by the particular usefulness of the compact diesel
motor, compared to the steam engine, for the relatively
small vessel size used in Danish seining. The effort of
motor seiners in the North Sea peaked in the 1960s, but
declined in subsequent decades; currently, motor seiners
account for only a small fraction of North Sea demersal
landings (~4% in 2004). Motor seining played an especially
important role in Scottish fisheries: during the 1960s and
1970s the number of seine landings was about ten times
higher in Scotland than in England and Wales.
Temporal coverage – 1924–32 (England; charts for
1929 absent), 1956–64 (England and Scotland), 1965–81
(England and Wales). The following definition changes are
relevant.
Charts for 1924–32 include landings in England by firstclass motor seiners, defined as having at least 15 tons
gross tonnage.
Charts for 1956–64 include landings in England by all
motor seiners 40 feet and over; and landings in Scotland
by all seiners 70 feet and over landing at Aberdeen only.
21
1927
22
1957
5 overview of charts
21
20
70
180
7107
120
19
2838 1597 3900 1380
18
187
17
40
16
36
15
109
20
60
27
135
128
60
149
90
160
160
20
82
85
766
30
2243
959 11693
82
14
190
1680
847
784
3483 1016
617
565
13
702
471
1829
359
906
683
1213
198
102
720
1486
345
1555 1445 5334 2775
210
125
192
941
2152 1123 1441 1874 2955
852
2271 2698 5160 9216 4300 5386
12
132
69
11
62
10
9
322
229
63
167
116
225
732
403
22267 2597 2483 6268 7305 6246 2089
8
204
147
124
720
612
7
87
144
497
316
150
6
439
474
72
75
5
69
175
460
4526 14674 4407 8952 23150 5560 11688 280
76
1027 2819 12128 2378
8209 2046 1271
850
340
100
382
888
343
67
150
180
4
3
2
1
22
1967
150
1977
21
20
60
19
368
30
93
246
18
17
175
16
15
43
9
107
135
1321
23
50
14
13
150
11
305
34
80
206
136
1614
378
553
1748 1166
740
1607
210
822
7313
928
258
384
1072 1592 1478 1558
322
196
180
39
12
270
6363
632
10
14410 275
9
4723 1479 7363 19571 4392 2015
8
6470 8253 29937 13650 10907 3109 8569
7
54
27
84
202
120
35
77
9
38
6567
167
3582
150
806
215
668
447
374
2114
504
70
1150
728
313 13364 196
117
793
25
725
2613 5442 1158
57
124
220
21
27
53
200
978
97
2720 1041 15811 27884 5472 3025
15
397
1137 3098 19738 1980 1115
8
823
7853 11625 3036 1507 3360 20665 140
3797 8073 7102
10592 2661 1069
5
165
1422 5799 5985 4897 3984
937
6
27
36
275
1951
157
372
2946 9250
276
410
335
143
565
467
288
270
556
888
663
603
87
81
4
3
150
2
1
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Figure 10. Distribution of effort by British motor seiners in the North Sea in 1927 (vessels landing in England
only), 1957 (vessels landing in England and Scotland), 1967 and 1977 (vessels landing in England only). Effort
is expressed as total number of hours fished by rectangle. Shadings indicate low (<1,000 hr, light), moderate
(1,000-10,000 hr, darker) or high (>10,000 hr, darkest) effort in corresponding rectangle.
J
K
L
M
N
5 overview of charts
22
Charts for 1965–81 include landings in England and
Wales by all motor seiners 40 feet and over.
Spatial coverage – See Figure 10. During 1924–32
(landings in England) moderate coverage of the central
North Sea (Division IVb), concentrated on the Doggerbank.
During 1956–64 (landings in England and Scotland), good
coverage of the central North Sea, moderate or good
coverage of the northern part (IVa), but only limited
coverage of the southern part (IVc). During 1965–81
(landings in England and Wales), good coverage of the
central, limited coverage of the northern and southern
North Sea.
Species coverage – See Table 4. The 1924–32 charts
provide consistent and apparently complete data for all 15
species recorded in Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables, 1924
to 1932 (MAF, London, 1925 to 1933). The 1956–81 charts
are more limited and include only 9 selected species. The
recordings of these were initiated in different years (1956,
cod; 1957, haddock, plaice and whiting; 1965, brill and
turbot; 1976, saithe and sole; 1977, hake).
Number of charts – 194 annual charts, 1485 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Boxes 50–56.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘ChartsIV.xls’.
Remark – Charts for 1924–25 mention ‘England and
Scotland’ as countries of landing, but a comparison with
Sea Fisheries—Statistical Tables, 1924 and 1925 (MAF,
London, 1925 and 1926) indicates that all charted landings
were in England.
5.1.6 Steam liners – North Sea (IV)
General – These charts, available for inter-war years
only, refer to first-class (15 tons gross and over) steam
vessels exclusively catching fish by means of long lines,
and include landings in both English and Scottish ports.
The long line method, introduced from the Dutch around
1770, comprises a main line to which are attached branch
lines, each fitted with one or more baited hooks for
targeting predatory fish. Long lines may either be ‘small
lines’, with relatively small hooks at intervals of about one
meter, usually baited before putting to sea and used near
the coast to catch fish such as haddock and small cod; or
‘great lines’, with bigger hooks at greater intervals (say 2–5
m), usually baited on board, and used offshore for larger
fish such as halibut, ling, skates and especially cod (Coull,
1996)4.
4
Steam liners were generally large vessels, comparable
to steam trawlers in size, that predominantly used great
lines. Large steam liners carried about 40 lines, each almost
a kilometer in length, that would have been fitted with
over 100 large hooks (Graham, 1956). Operating these was
facilitated by steam-powered line haulers; however, baiting
the lines was considerably labour-intensive work. The British
steam liner fleet grew quickly in the late nineteenth century.
The size of the fleet remained fairly stable during 1900–25,
apart from the temporary engagement of vessels in War
Service during 1914–18 (Figure 11). Thereafter a long-term
decline commenced, partly due to severe competition from
the trawler; very few steam liners remained after WWII.
Temporal coverage – 1924–32, which coincides with
the period of general decline in the fleet.
Spatial coverage – See Figure 12. Good coverage of
the northern North Sea (Division IVa), moderate coverage
of the central North sea (IVb), almost absent from the
southern North Sea (IVc). Steam liners fished especially
in the deep waters of the Norwegian Trench in the
northeastern North Sea. From the 1920s to the 1930s the
area covered contracted to some extent, mostly in the
central North Sea.
Species coverage – See Table 5; a fairly complete
coverage of the species caught is available (cf. Sea
Fisheries Statistical Tables, 1924 to 1932 (MAF, London,
1925 to 1933)). The particularly high selectivity of this gear
for large predatory fish, notably halibut, ling, cod and skate,
should be noted.
Number of charts – 148 annual charts, 1189 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Boxes 57–59.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘ChartsIV.xls’.
Remark – The statistical charts for liners do not include
figures for catch rates (usually quantified as cwt per 100
hours fishing) by rectangle. In the case of liners, catch rates
per se are generally not considered a satisfactory measure
of fish abundance; hence no such data were collected for
British fisheries statistics. Neither are data available on the
total number of lines hauled and the average number of
hooks per line, generally considered important components
of liner fishing effort. As a crude measure of effort, data
on number of days absent from port are available for
English and Welsh steam and motor liners in Sea Fisheries
Statistical Tables, 1924 to 1932 (MAF, London, 1925 to
1933); these cannot be linked to single ICES rectangles.
The original way of line fishing is by means of ‘hand lines’, that is lines with one or two baited hooks lowered directly from the boat
and operated entirely by hand. Hand-lining in British fisheries dates back to at least the 15th century (Jones 2001).
23
Steam liners
Motor liners
80
Number
5 overview of charts
100
60
40
20
0
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
Figure 11. Trends in numbers of first-class steam and motor liners
which were on the Register of British Sea Fishing Boats on 31
December, 1890–1990 (England and Wales only; for some years, data
were lacking).
Table 5. Species monitored in ‘Statistical Charts’ for North Sea liners,
with indication of temporal coverage per species. No charts on fishing
effort available.
aa
Steam liners
Brill
1926, 1928–30
Catfish
1924–32
1924–29, 1931
Cod
1924–32
1924–32
Conger eels
1924–32
1924–32
Dabs
1930
1924
Dogfish
1924–32
1924–32
Gurnards
1926
Haddock
1924–32
1924–32
Hake
1924–32
1924, 1928
Halibut
1924–32
1924–31
Latchets (tubs)
1932
Lemon soles
1927
Ling
1924–32
Megrims
1931
Monks (anglers)
1924–25, 1930
1924
Plaice
1932
1924, 1931
Pollack
1924, 1926–32
1927
Saithe (coalfish)
1924–32
1924–32
Skates and rays
1924–32
1924–32
Soles
Motor liners
1924–32
1929
Torsk (tusk)
1924–32
1927–28
Turbot
1924–32
1924–32
Whiting
1924–32
1924–29
Witches
1927
Total wet fish
1924–32
1924–32
1980
1990
24
5 overview of charts
22
1924
258
21
310
20
112
2722
1932
269
2297 5931 1079
344
303
2425 3566 8187 10484 716
19
1180
846
309
578 11103 6870 3408
176
332
18
1123
676
927
2915 6844 1907 2265
79
285
17
2257 2076
394
1069
16
700
332
713
162
289
343
519
1389
523
369
15
14
13
12
22
11
64
233
2872 2941
50
383
888
1640
534
63
1063 2963 6248
381
688
1387 1274 3780 5447
964
83
1996 6313 2387 4316 1894 3574
249
504
1393 1872 6543
49
698
2005
10
111
231
119
9
163
376
454
55
8
9
628
4112
200
47
5970
61
7
6
442
116
155
53
618
763
411
531
1434
479
283
1935 3798 4239 1855
298
999
2159 2056 2208
561
752
991
82
559
190
37
105
143
798
2
99
59
15
76
2026 1580
395
117
95
1116 1621
492
34
347
805
84
146
1542 2109
50
102
266
391
3843 3494
43
133
814
1551
545
390
119
290
131
851
4925 1940
7
87
2468
15
2029 3590
293
324
5
3243
2450 1298 3258 5051 5486 8125
240
128
931
54
4244
765
106
145
35
E
F
4
3
2
1
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
A
B
C
D
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
Figure 12. Distribution of total catches of wet fish (in cwt), taken by British first-class steam liners in the
North Sea and landed in England and Scotland in 1924 and 1932. Shadings indicate low (<100 cwt, light),
moderate (100-1,000 cwt, darker) or high (>1,000 cwt, darkest) total catches in corresponding rectangle.
5.1.7 Motor liners - North Sea (IV)
General – This series of charts covers the same,
relatively brief period as those on steam liners, 1924–32.
The charts refer to first-class motor vessels over 15 tons
gross. Motor liners, which first appeared in English fisheries
in 1912, were generally much smaller than steam liners. For
example, in 1932 the average tonnage of first-class steam
liners in England and Wales was 223 tons, of first-class
motor liners 23 tons; in fact, most motor liners were second
class (<15 tons gross) vessels. Motor liners typically used
small lines or hand lines and operated in coastal waters,
mainly off northeastern England and Scotland; they made
short voyages of about 1 day duration, as opposed to about
4–5 days in steam liners. Landings by motor liners began
to outnumber those by steam liners in the late 1930s. The
number of motor liners was quite stable in the 1920s and
1930s, but grew quickly in the two decades following WWII,
and declined again from the 1960s onwards. Small lines and
hand lines remained the predominant type of British linefishing in the North Sea. In 2004, catches by motor liners
(mainly long liners) made up about 6% of British demersal
landings from the North Sea in the UK.
Temporal coverage – 1924–32.
Spatial coverage – Concentrated in coastal waters
off northeastern England and southeast Scotland (Figure
13).
Species coverage – See Table 5. Note selectivity of this
gear for larger predatory fish.
Number of charts – 112 annual charts, 734 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Boxes 60–61.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘ChartsIV.xls’.
Remarks – The statistical charts do not provide
information on hours fished or on catch rate (usually
quantified as cwt per 100 hours fishing) by rectangle. As
a crude measure of effort, data on number of days absent
from port are available (see Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables,
1924 to 1932 (MAF, London, 1925 to 1933)), but these
cannot be linked to single ICES rectangles.
The charts mention England and Scotland as the
countries of landing. A comparison with Sea Fisheries
Statistical Tables, 1924 to 1932 suggests that at least in
some years (1930–32) only landings in England and Wales
were charted.
25
1932
21
20
19
18
17
39
16
15
14
13
3
74
15
12
7
74
45
11
12
334
134
10
13
9
16
8
455
13
25
9
26
12
29
19
25
757
443
7
6984
65
8
6755
44
6
6795
155
12210
5
24
119
5616 3547
4
3
2
1
4938
A
B
C
D
E
F
241
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
Figure 13. Distribution of total catches of wet fish (in cwt), taken by British first-class motor liners in the
North Sea and landed in England and Scotland in 1924 and 1932. Shadings indicate low (<100 cwt, light),
moderate (100-1,000 cwt, darker) or high (>1,000 cwt, darkest) total catches in corresponding rectangle.
5.2 Demersal charts –
Iceland and Faroe (V)
5.2.1 Steam and motor trawlers – Iceland (Va)
General – This set of statistical charts covers Icelandic
waters (Division Va) for the period 1952–73 (Figure 14).
The charts refer to landings either in England and Wales
(all years) or in Scotland (1957–60).
Although Iceland was already visited by line fishers
from the east of England in the fifteenth century (Jones,
2001), British trawling in this highly productive region
began in 1891. In that year, 3 steam trawlers from
Grimsby fished there and returned with heavy catches.
There were no trawling expeditions in the following
years, but from 1902 onwards increasing numbers of
British trawlers began to visit Icelandic waters (Graham,
1956). The main motivation was far greater catch rates,
especially for cod, than in nearby waters such as the
North Sea. Cod plays a particularly predominant role in
the Icelandic bottom fish community, and can amount
to about half of the total demersal catch. Other species
important to demersal fisheries include haddock, saithe,
plaice and halibut. British catches in Icelandic waters
increased steadily from the 1890s until the 1930s.
Catches and fishing effort were strongly reduced during
WWII, but quickly returned to levels comparable of the
1930s during the post-war years (Figure 15; cf. Gulland,
1961).
It is well known that in the following quarter of a
century, fisheries in Icelandic waters by Britain (and to
a lesser extent, several other European nations) became
the topic of repeated fisheries disputes. During these
disputes, Iceland—a country unique among nations in
its dependency on fisheries—successfully claimed the
right to protect its fish stocks, by successively extending
its exclusive fisheries limits: from 3 to 4 nautical miles
in 1952, to 12 miles in 1958, to 50 miles in 1972, and to
200 miles in 1975. The latter three conflicts resulted in
the Anglo-Icelandic ‘Cod Wars’ (1958–61, 1972–73, and
1975–76), each settled in favour of Iceland (e.g. Gilchrist,
1978; Jónsson, 1982). The total landings and fishing
effort by British trawlers operating in Icelandic waters
were not strongly affected by the first two conflicts,
remaining at comparable levels from the 1950s to the
early 1970s (Figure 14). However, after the loss of the
Second and Third Cod Wars and the introduction of
the 200-miles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), British
trawling in Icelandic waters ceased in 1977.
5 overview of charts
1924
22
Figure 14. Example of
‘Statistical Chart’ for Iceland,
showing number of hours
fished for British steam and
motor trawlers combined in
1957 (only 2% of effort was by
motor trawlers). Only vessels
landing in England and Wales
are included. Broken line
indicates the 100 fathom
line. Note that rectangle
notation differs from current
ICES rectangle notation (see
Section 4).
Temporal coverage – 1952–73, except for the years
1961 and 1972. For 1973, only charts on effort (hours
fished) are available.
Spatial coverage – See Figure 14. The majority of
rectangles covering the Icelandic shelf were visited in any
given year. Within the year there was a strong pattern in
spatial coverage, mainly reflecting migration patterns of
cod (Gulland, 1961).
The typical chart format, whereby catches are shown
by ICES rectangle, was not used in 1973, the last year for
which statistical charts are available (coinciding with the
Second Cod War). On the 1973 charts, hours fished are
shown by 8 broader regions labelled A–H (compare with
Jónsson (1982), p. 152).
Species coverage – Cod (recorded from 1952–73),
haddock, plaice and redfish (recorded from 1954–73),
400000
Steam
Number of hours fished
5 overview of charts
26
Motor
300000
200000
100000
0
1925
1930
1935
1940
1945
1950
Figure 15. Number of hours fished by British steam and motor
trawlers in Icelandic waters, 1925–80 (vessels landings in England
and Wales only).
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
27
and saithe (recorded from 1962–73). By and large, these
species comprise the major portion (>90%) of Icelandic
trawl catches.
Number of charts – 70 annual charts, 1496 monthly
charts. Annual charts are absent for the years 1954 and
1965–71.
Box reference numbers – Boxes 62–65.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘ChartsVa.xls’.
Remark – The British trawl fleet in Icelandic waters
consisted exclusively of large steam trawlers until the
early 1950s. Large motor trawlers, of comparable tonnage
to the steam trawlers, began participating in the fishery
from the mid-1950s onwards, taking about 12% of the
entire trawl catch in 1960, 66% in 1970, 87% in 1975, and
99% in 1976, the last year of the fishery. On the statistical
charts for 1957–71, trawl catches by rectangle were not
partitioned to either steam or motor trawlers. This is
unfortunate, given that this period coincides with that of
most change in the fleet in terms of propulsion method
(cf. Figure 15).
5.2.2 Steam and motor trawlers –
Faroe (Vb)
General – This set of statistical charts covers the
waters around the Faroe (Faeroe) Islands (Division Vb) over
the years 1946–80 (Figure 16). The charts refer to landings
5 overview of charts
Figure 16. Example of
‘Statistical Chart’ for Faroe,
showing number of hours
fished for British steam and
motor trawlers combined
in 1957 (about 19% of effort
was by motor trawlers). Only
vessels landing in England
and Wales are included.
Broken line indicates the
100 fathom line. Note that
rectangle notation differs
from current ICES rectangle
notation (see Section 4).
by trawlers either in England and Wales (all years) or in
Scotland (1955–60).
The productive Faroese waters were first visited by British
trawlers in 1898. This became an area of high significance
for British fisheries during the first ten years of the twentieth
century, and remained so until the early 1970s. During
most of that period, English and Scottish trawl vessels took
the majority of the Faroese catch. Landings were strongly
reduced during WWII, but increased again until the 1950s.
Nevertheless, from the mid-1930s onwards there was a
generally declining trend in British trawling effort in the area
(Figure 17). The total demersal catch, apart from the war
years, remained fairly constant until the 1960s. In 1977 the
200-miles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was introduced.
Since then, Faroese vessels have dominated the landings
with negligible fishing effort by British trawlers (e.g. 1980:
1187 hours fished). Cod, haddock and saithe make up the
majority of the demersal catch at the Faroe grounds.
Temporal coverage – 1946–80. This covers the entire
post-war period during which a significant portion of British
landings came from Faroese waters.
Spatial coverage – See Figure 16. From 1946–77, good
coverage of most rectangles that comprise the shallower
waters of the Faroe Plateau and the Faroe Bank. Following
introduction of the EEZ the effort of British trawlers and hence
spatial coverage became significantly reduced in 1978–80.
28
Number of hours fished
5 overview of charts
250000
200000
Steam
Motor
150000
100000
50000
0
1925
1930
1935
1940
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
Figure 17. Number of hours fished by British steam and motor
trawlers in Faroese waters, 1925–90 (vessels landings in England and
Wales only).
Species coverage – From 1946–80: cod, haddock and
saithe (which usually amounted for ~85–89% of the total
demersal catch; their predominance has declined in recent
years). From 1977–80, in addition plaice and whiting.
Number of charts – 169 annual charts, 2125 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Boxes 66–71.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘ChartsVb.xls’.
Figure 18. Example of ‘Statistical
Chart’ for the area West of Scotland,
showing number of hours fished
in 1957 for British steam trawlers
landing in England and Wales.
Broken line indicates the 100 fathom
line. Note that rectangle notation
differs from current ICES rectangle
notation (see Section 4).
Remark – On the statistical charts for 1957–71, trawl
catches by rectangle were not partitioned to either steam
or motor trawlers (as is also the case in the series of charts
for Iceland; see Section 5.2.1). Regrettably, this coincides
with a period of major change in the fleet from steam to
motor propulsion. For example, the fraction of the total
trawl catch landed in England and Wales, caught by motor
trawlers, was 10% in 1956, 85% in 1965, 93% in 1972.
29
Number of hours fished
5 overview of charts
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
1925
1930
1935
1940
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
Figure 19. Number of hours fished in the area West of Scotland
(Division VIa) during 1925–82, for steam trawlers (white symbols) and
motor trawlers (black symbols) landing in England and Wales, and
for steam and motor trawlers combined (grey symbols) landing in
Scotland (no data for most years prior to 1950).
5.3 Demersal charts –
West of Scotland and Rockall (VI)
5.3.1 Steam and motor trawlers –
West of Scotland and Rockall (VI)
General – This set of statistical charts shows the
landings by British trawlers from the area West of Scotland
(Division VIa; see Figure 18) for the period 1955–81; from
1972 onwards, landings from the area around Rockall
(Division VIb) were also indicated. All charts include
landings in England and Wales only.
Steam trawling in the area West of Scotland goes
back to around 1891 (Graham 1955). This has been an
important area for the the British trawling industry since
the beginning of the twentieth century, with landings
over 500,000 cwt (~25,000 tonnes) in most years. In the
first half of the century, most trawl catches were landed
in England and Wales, but from the 1950s onwards an
increasingly high fraction has been landed at Scottish ports
(Figure 19).
Temporal coverage – 1955–81, largely coinciding with
the period of decrease in landings in England and Wales.
Spatial coverage – In any given year, trawlers visited
the majority of rectangles comprising the continental
shelf within Division VIa (Figure 19). At a monthly scale
the spatial coverage is less comprehensive, especially in
later years when the fishing effort by trawlers landing in
England and Wales had decreased. In the earlier years the
fishery tended to be more offshore during the summer
months.
The charts for 1972–81 include landings by rectangle
from Division VIb (Rockall).
Species coverage – All years: cod, dogfish, haddock,
hake, saithe, and whiting. From 1977 onwards: also plaice
and (in very small quantities) sole. The species dominating
the trawl landings were cod, saithe, haddock and (except
in later years) hake.
Number of charts – 269 annual charts, 3434 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Boxes 72–78.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘ChartsVI.xls’.
Remark – For the year 1977 only, 5 annual and 5
monthly statistical charts describe motor seiner catches,
landed in England and Wales, from the area West of
Scotland (Division VIa). There was only a single landing in
that year, caught during 20 hours fishing. The charts show
catches of total demersal fish, cod, plaice, whiting, and
the number of hours fished. They have been included in
Box 77.
5.4 Demersal charts –
West of Ireland and Channels (VII)
5.4.1 Motor trawlers – Irish Sea (VIIa)
General – The charts show the landings in England
and Wales by British motor trawlers, originating from the
Irish Sea (Division VIIa), for the years 1972–76 only. For
the years 1977–81, this series is continued on a set of
statistical charts that includes the entire Sub-area VII (see
Section 5.4.2). The charts include landings by vessels over
40 feet length only.
Temporal coverage – 1972–76.
Spatial coverage – All or most rectangles in the Irish
Sea are covered.
Species coverage – Cod, hake, monks or anglers,
plaice, saithe, skates and rays, sole, whiting.
Number of charts – 45 annual charts, 540 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Boxes 79–80.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘ChartsVII.xls’.
Remark – All charts show the landings in metric
tonnes.
5.4.2 Motor trawlers –
West of Ireland and Channels (VII)
General – This series of charts, available for 1977–81,
forms a continuation of the 1972–76 Irish Sea trawler charts,
extended to include all landings by motor trawlers in England
and Wales from the entire Sub-area VII (West of Ireland and
Channels). Within this area, ~40–50% of the trawl landings
5 overview of charts
30
Figure 20. Example of ‘Statistical Chart’ for ICES Sub-area VII, showing
number of hours fished in 1978 for British motor trawlers landing in
England and Wales (vessels over 40 feet only). Landings from ICES
Divisions VIIb–c and VIIj–k (not charted) by rectangle are included at
the bottom of the chart. Note that rectangles are indicated following
both ICES notation (bottom and right-hand margins) and traditional
‘Statistical Chart’ notation (top and left-hand margins; see Section 4).
during 1977–81 came from the Irish Sea (Division VIIa), ~30–
40% from the English Channel (VIId and e), ~10% from the
Bristol Channel (VIIf), 2–18% from the area South of Ireland
and the Sole Banks (VIIg–k), and <1% from the area West
of Ireland and Porcupine Bank (VIIb and c). The charts only
include landings by vessels over 40 feet length.
Temporal coverage – 1977–81.
Spatial coverage – See Figure 20. During these years
trawlers landing in England and Wales operated in most
rectangles of the Irish Sea (VIIa) and Bristol Channel
(VIIf). In the English Channel, British trawlers operated
mainly in the northern rectangles; effort was considerably
higher in the Western (VIIe) compared to the Eastern
English Channel (VIId). The coverage of Divisions VIIg and
VIIh (South-east of Ireland and Little Sole Bank) is less
extensive and merely restricted to the shallower waters.
There is very limited coverage of the areas to the west and
south-west of Ireland (VIIb–c, VIIj–k). It should be noted
that the average gross tonnage of trawlers visiting the
more distant Divisions VIIb–c and VIIg–k was far greater
(~100–200 tons) than that of trawlers fishing in the Irish
Sea and Channels (VIIa, VIId–f; ~30–40 tons).
Species coverage – Cod, haddock, plaice, saithe, sole,
and whiting recorded from 1977–81; Norway pout recorded
in 1977 and 1978 (very small quantities); sandeels recorded
in 1978 (very small quantity).
Number of charts – 35 annual charts, 451 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Box 81.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘ChartsVII.xls’.
31
General – This set of charts, covering the period 1977–
81, shows the landings in England and Wales by motor
(Danish or demersal) seiners from Sub-area VII (West of
Ireland and Channels). For the same region and period,
landings by trawlers are also available (see Section 5.4.2).
Over the years, most effort by British seiners generally
occurred in the North Sea, but Sub-area VII is probably
the region of second-most importance for this capture
method. Still, during 1977–81 most of the demersal
landings from Sub-area VII were taken by trawlers (>80%),
with seiners being responsible for only about 4–8% of the
catch. Seiners were active in a relatively small number
of rectangles within the sub-area; this was mostly in the
Irish Sea and to a lesser extent in the Western English
Channel.
Temporal coverage – 1977–81.
Spatial coverage – Limited. Mainly in the north-eastern
part of the Irish Sea (VIIa) and the northern part of the
Western English Channel (VIIe), where Danish seining
occurred in most months of the years 1977–81. In the
other divisions of Sub-area VII, seining occurred only in a
few rectangles, in some spring or summer months only.
Species coverage – Cod, haddock, plaice, saithe, sole,
whiting. Of these species, plaice is generally caught in
highest quantities.
Number of charts – 32 annual charts, 403 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Box 82.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘ChartsVII.xls’.
5.5 Pelagic charts - all regions
General – Until 1977, statistical charts had exclusively
covered landings of demersal fish species, but in that year
the series was extended to include catches of pelagic fish
landed in England and Wales. ‘Pelagic charts’ are available
for the following ICES Sub-areas or Divisions: IV (North Sea),
Vb (Faroe), VI (West of Scotland and Rockall), and VII (West
of Ireland and Channels). The following fleet components
are shown on separate charts: motor trawlers, pair trawlers
(sometimes referred to as ‘pareja’ or ‘parega’), purse
seiners (including fixed nets), and liners (for descriptions and
illustrations, see e.g. Graham, 1956; Jennings et al., 2001).
Landings by vessels both under and over 40 feet are shown.
The charts show the total landings of all pelagic fish, herring,
mackerel, and sprat. No information is provided on effort, or
catch-per-unit-effort, by rectangle.
5.5.1 Pelagic charts - North Sea (IV)
Temporal coverage – 1977–81.
Spatial coverage – Highly localised and patchy; mainly
in the western central North Sea (Division IVb). Most
catches were taken by motor trawlers and pair trawlers.
Species coverage – Herring, mackerel, sprat, total
pelagic fish. Herring has traditionally been the most
important pelagic species in the North Sea, but pelagic
landings in this specific period constituted mainly of sprat.
At the time the herring fishery was in crisis and landings
were extremely low, due to severe depletion of the stock
in preceding decades (the stock has recovered in more
recent years; Nichols, 2001).
Number of charts – 50 annual charts, 398 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Box 83.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘PelagicCharts.xls’.
5.5.2 Pelagic charts – Faroe (Vb)
Temporal coverage – 1977–80.
Spatial coverage – Localised on the Faroe Plateau and
Faroe Bank.
Species coverage – Mackerel, total pelagic fish. These
were taken exclusively by motor trawlers.
Number of charts – 8 annual charts, 29 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Box 84.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘PelagicCharts.xls’.
5.5.3 Pelagic charts –
West of Scotland and Rockall (VI)
Temporal coverage – 1977–81.
Spatial coverage – Motor trawlers (responsible for the
majority of landings) operated in most rectangles covering
the continental shelf within Division VIa. Effort by pair
trawlers and purse seiners was very localised. In each of
the years 1977–81, some motor and/or pair trawlers took
a small number of pelagic catches on the Rockall Bank
(Division VIb).
Species coverage – Herring, mackerel, total pelagic
fish. In this region, mackerel was the most important
pelagic species during these years. Mackerel catches by
British vessels increased very significantly from 1977 (161
tonnes) to 1979 (13,472 tonnes). This is readily explained
by shifts in the distribution of fishing fleets following
the introduction of Exclusive Economic Zones in 1977
(Lockwood and Shepherd, 1984). As a result, many British
vessels previously fishing in distant waters moved to
regions within the European Union’s EEZ.
5 overview of charts
5.4.3 Motor seiners –
West of Ireland and Channels (VII)
5 overview of charts
32
Number of charts – 36 annual charts, 167 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Box 84.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘PelagicCharts.xls’.
Remark – All pelagic charts include landings in England
and Wales only. It should be noted that of the United
Kingdom’s pelagic catch in Division VIa, the fraction landed
in Scotland was far higher than that landed in England and
Wales during the period considered.
5.5.4 Pelagic charts –
West of Ireland and Channels (VII)
Temporal coverage – 1977–81.
Spatial coverage – Localised within Sub-area VII.
Motor trawlers operated in most rectangles of the Irish
Sea (Division VIIa) and Bristol Channel (VIIf); in most of
the northern rectangles of the English Channel (VIId, e);
and in some rectangles to the west and south of Ireland
(VIIa–b, VIIg–k). Most effort by pair trawlers, purse seiners
and liners was in a few rectangles of the Irish Sea (VIIa),
the northwestern English Channel (VIIe), and the Bristol
Channel (VIIf).
Species coverage – Herring, mackerel, sprat, total
pelagic fish.
Number of charts – 57 annual charts, 635 monthly
charts.
Box reference numbers – Box 85.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘PelagicCharts.xls’.
Remark – Within Sub-area VII there are strong regional
differences in the prevalence of the various species that
make up the pelagic catch. Herring dominate catches in
the Irish Sea (VIIa), while mackerel generally do so in the
Bristol Channel (VIIf). In the English Channel (VIId and
VIIe), mackerel, pilchards and herring each dominated the
catches in different periods of the twentieth century (cf.
Southward et al. 1988); mackerel was the most important
species in the years covered by the statistical charts.
5.6 Miscellaneous charts
5.6.1 All fleets – All regions
General – For the years 1925–30, these charts
provide information on the overall distribution of the
British fishing fleet over the various fishing regions in
the north-east Atlantic (see Figure 21 for an example).
More specifically, for all British first-class vessels landing
in England and Wales, these charts may show either
(1) the total number of landings or (2) the total quantity
(in 100 cwt) of wet fish landed from each rectangle
of the northeast Atlantic. The values by rectangle are
shown separately for the different fleet components—
steam trawlers, motor trawlers, sailing trawlers, steam
liners, motor liners, steam Danish seiners, motor Danish
seiners, steam drifters, and motor drifters (see Sections
5.1.1–5.1.7 for brief descriptions of fleet components,
with emphasis on the North Sea). The numbers of
landings are not shown for drifters.
Temporal coverage – 1925–30 for charts on the total
quantity of wet fish; 1925–26 for charts on the number of
landings.
Spatial coverage – All regions where the British fishing
fleet operated during these years (see Figure 21). The
most important regions were ICES Sub-areas IV (North
Sea; almost half of the total quantity landed in England
and Wales), V (Iceland and Faroe; almost a quarter), and
VII (West of Ireland and Channels; about one-tenth). Of
moderate importance were ICES Sub-areas VI (West of
Scotland and Rockall), I (Barents Sea) and (from 1928
onwards) II (Northward of Norwegian Coast); each of
these three regions accounted for roughly one-twentieth
of the total quantity landed. A very small fraction of the
landings (<1%) came from ICES Sub-areas III (Skagerrak,
Baltic), VII (Gulf of Biscay), IX (Portuguese Coast), X
(Moroccan Coast), and XV (West Coast of Greenland;
currently NAFO Sub-area 1).
Species coverage – Total wet fish. This includes all
demersal and pelagic fish, but excludes any shellfish
catches.
Number of charts – 8 annual charts, 68 monthly
charts
Box reference numbers – Box 86.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘AllRegionsCharts.xls’
5.6.2 Tonnage charts – North Sea
General – For each month of the period 1960–66, this
interesting set of charts provides information on how
fishing vessels of various sizes distributed over the North
Sea. More specifically, for each rectangle the charts show
the average gross tonnage per voyage per month, plotted
separately for steam trawlers, motor trawlers, and motor
seiners landing in England and Wales. This information can
be very useful for interpreting spatial variability in catch
rates of fish species, given that vessel tonnage and fishing
power are generally closely correlated (for worked-out
examples see e.g. Gulland, 1956; Beverton and Holt, 1957
[pp. 175–176]). Unfortunately, the charts are restricted to
a fairly short time-span of only 7 years.
Temporal coverage – 1960–66.
Spatial coverage – North Sea.
Species coverage – Not applicable.
33
5.6.3 Scottish charts –
Trawlers and seiners
General – This series of charts from the 1960s, labeled
‘Scottish charts’, was probably not produced at Cefas but
at Fisheries Research Services (FRS), Aberdeen. They
show the landings by trawlers and seiners from the sea
area around Scotland and the Faroes, for Scottish ports
exclusively. The area mapped on the charts does not
match precisely with definitions of ICES fishing regions.
From 1960–63 it is enclosed by latitudes 55° and 64°N
and longitudes 15°W and 8°E; this includes ICES Divisions
IVa (northern North Sea), Vb (Faroe) and VIa (West of
Scotland) and part of Divisions IVb (central North Sea) and
VIb (Rockall). From 1964–66 the charted area is smaller
(between longitudes 9°W and 5°E only) so that it excludes
Division VIb (Rockall).
One set of ‘Scottish charts’ shows landings and effort
(hours fishing) for British trawlers landing in Scotland,
distinguishing steam trawlers, motor trawlers, and (except
in the initial year) light trawlers (cf. Main and Sangster,
1983).
A second set of ‘Scottish charts’ shows landings and
effort for British seiners (all motor) landing in Scotland.
Seiners are divided into 3 length groups, defined differently
in the earlier and later years of the time series (1962–64:
under 40 feet, 40–70 feet, and over 70 feet; 1965–66:
under 40 feet, 40–65 feet, and over 65 feet). For the years
1962 and 1963, separate charts show the statistics for
seiners landing in Aberdeen and for those landing in all
other Scottish ports.
Temporal coverage – Trawlers: 1961–66. Seiners:
1962–66.
Spatial coverage – Seas around Scotland and Faroe.
Species coverage – Cod, haddock, hake, lemon soles,
plaice, saithe, whiting, total demersal fish.
Number of charts – Trawlers: 897 monthly charts.
Seiners: 1214 monthly charts. No charts with annual
statistics available.
Box reference numbers – 88–93.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘ScottishCharts.xls’
5 overview of charts
Number of charts – 252 monthly charts (no annual
charts).
Box reference numbers – Box 87.
Spreadsheet reference – ‘TonnageCharts.xls’
5 overview of charts
34
5 overview of charts
Figure 21. Example of ‘Statistical Chart’ showing the overall distribution of effort for the entire British firstclass fishing fleet (excluding drifters) landing in England and Wales in 1925. Effort is shown as the number
of landings originating from each rectangle in the north-east Atlantic, indicated separately for each fleet
component: steam, motor and sailing trawlers, steam and motor liners, steam and motor Danish seiners.
35
6. Perspectives
6 perspectives
36
The previous section clearly demonstrates the
extensiveness of the ‘Statistical Charts’ series held at
Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory, produced over almost 7
decades and numbering over 37,000 charts. The report
thus underlines the potential of these charts as a rich
data source for studies focusing on long-term changes in
abundance and distribution for a range of fish stocks, as
well as for the fishing fleets targeting these stocks (cf.
Pope and Macer, 1996; Rijnsdorp et al., 1996; Rijnsdorp
and Millner, 1996; Greenstreet et al., 1999; Rogers and
Ellis, 2000).
It appears that during the past two decades the ‘Statistical
Charts’ have not, or have only rarely been used for research
purposes. One chief obstacle may simply have been a lack
of funding to digitise the extensive material into a computerreadable format. The 1980s and 1990s also saw a trend in
fisheries science whereby the importance of commercial
catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data for stock assessments
somewhat declined in favour of ‘tuning series’ based on
research survey data. It should also be noted that from the
1970s onwards, rectangle-specific CPUE data are available
in digital format (ICES, Copenhagen).
Some of the possibilities and challenges provided by the
charts may be briefly discussed here. One complication
which is perhaps fairly obvious, is that the charts show
landings statistics, reflecting the quantities of fish brought
ashore but not necessarily the quantities actually caught.
For example, Borley and Thursby-Pelham (1926) mentioned
that the 1923 and 1924 charts for dab and whiting, in all
probability, did not represent the true catches at all, due
to extensive discarding of these (at the time) low-value
species. There is often hardly any knowledge on the
extent of discarding especially for the early years. Different
species were discarded to various extents in different
periods, depending on factors such as monetary value,
quota restrictions, mean fish size and abundance (haddock:
see Bowman, 1932).
In addition, fishing grounds are often highly localised
within rectangles. Thus, while figures on catches and catch
rates may provide fair descriptions of the conditions at the
grounds where most of the actual fishing took place, they
may not necessarily be representative of the conditions for
entire rectangles (R.C.A. Bannister, pers. comm.).
Furthermore, the definition of fish species may
sometimes be problematic. For example, ‘skates and rays’
in the North Sea may include at least six species of Rajidae,
and the prevalence of several of these has changed
markedly over the past century (Rijnsdorp et al., 1996;
Walker and Hislop, 1998). ‘Breams’ are usually defined
as any members of the Sparidae (sea breams), but on the
earliest statistical charts the term apparently also included
the scorpaenid Sebastes (Norway haddock; fide Borley and
Thursby-Pelham, 1926).
Such complications should, however, not distract from
the general usefulness of the ‘Statistical Charts’, which
may primarily lie in the combination of spatial with
temporal information on catch rates (see Figure 22 for
an illustration). The spatial structure of fish stocks may
be better described by commercial CPUE data (often
derived from a large number of vessels per rectangle,
each fishing a large number of hours) than by research
survey data (often derived from a relatively small number
of stations each sampled once or a few times only). On
the other hand, temporal changes in fish stocks may be
better described by survey data (if collected in a consistent
way over the years) than by commercial CPUE statistics,
due to inherent trends in fishing fleets affecting their
fishing power. Examples are changes in vessel tonnage,
horsepower, technology, and fishery regulations (see
Hilborn and Walters, 1992, pp. 121–131 and 175–192).
For the northern North Sea, a comparison with Scottish
groundfish surveys from 1929–56 and 1981–93 may help
tackle such complications (e.g. Greenstreet and Hall 1996).
Moreover, a good understanding of the history of a specific
fleet component is essential before analyses of its CPUE
for studies on changes in stock abundance can be carried
out. Both the Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables series (Defra,
London; previously MAF and MAFF), the Scottish Sea
Fisheries Statistical Tables (SEERAD, Edinburgh; previously
SHD) and the Bulletin Statistique (ICES, Copenhagen)
contain valuable quantitative information on British and
European fishing fleets. Unfortunately, it has been difficult
to find datasets on average tonnage or average engine
power that are collected in a consistent way over several
decades, even though such data are available for shorter
periods (Figure 23).
With this catalogue, an initial step has been made
towards making better use of these historical ‘Statistical
Charts’. Indeed, Cefas’ Systems Modelling Team is planning
to further extend the work in the near future. A start has
been made to digitise a subset of charts. Given the large
amount of information and time required to enter all data in
electronic databases, the team’s priority in the short term
is to focus on specific questions. In the long term, it is
hoped to make the majority of data available electronically,
depending on funding and priority considerations. We are
confident that the study initiated with this catalogue can
appreciably improve our understanding of fish stock and
fleet dynamics—acknowledging, at the same time, the
advantages and challenges posed by these data.
37
22
6
6
8
2
29
20
9
10
5
3
1937
15
1947
63
19
128
23
19
19
5
25
49
79
54
32
36
57
52
7
32
56
70
32
52
73
46
12
5
52
100
20
19
29
24
15
16
23
12
2
19
35
27
11
15
25
27
11
5
18
49
23
30
35
29
27
17
29
8
35
58
69
59
69
71
55
40
45
17
85
18
52
49
25
21
25
20
10
230
147
69
90
51
47
48
46
38
16
68
25
29
40
15
16
35
31
115
91
48
73
70
41
38
63
37
15
6
38
25
21
8
19
35
25
19
38
36
53
60
28
43
56
46
57
31
96
25
62
18
13
47
46
29
27
16
60
57
63
76
84
46
53
74
66
90
56
14
13
106
37
49
28
30
38
33
34
49
49
51
100
72
105
118
62
139
90
35
12
37
28
18
39
31
54
39
48
41
37
43
84
62
114
121
169
245
45
36
36
11
47
33
53
57
41
43
24
26
14
49
24
104
98
94
87
132
42
38
39
30
10
36
27
38
43
78
52
55
15
21
27
39
114
103
125
134
148
202
17
21
9
46
51
68
39
44
19
12
13
9
14
1
151
160
199
86
99
73
34
8
42
51
102
29
26
21
13
9
9
6
5
142
197
243
87
94
100
65
30
45
30
19
20
17
12
9
9
7
142
119
79
53
59
80
92
6
26
21
13
11
8
6
11
4
88
87
32
20
22
27
5
98
19
5
3
10
138
82
5
8
36
4
5
6
3
1
18
9
4
3
6
8
4
5
15
11
2
5
8
5
14
1
7
3
9
16
F
G
F
G
7
A
B
C
D
E
H
J
K
L
M
N
A
B
C
D
E
H
J
85
75
63
45
359
K
160
L
M
Figure 22. Illustration of spatial and temporal information available through ‘Statistical Charts’. For
each rectangle of the North Sea, catch rates of cod by British first-class steam trawlers are shown
(in cwt per 100 hours fishing), for the years 1937 (left) and 1947 (right). Shadings indicate low (<10 cwt
100-1 hr-1, light), moderate (10–50 cwt 100-1 hr-1, darker) or high (>50 cwt 100-1 hr-1, darkest) catch
rates. White indicates absence of steam trawling in corresponding rectangle. Note far greater catch
rates in 1947, following a period when fishing effort was significantly reduced during WWII (cf. Figure 3).
800
Average gross tonnage
600
400
200
0
1900
1910
1920
1930
Figure 23. Average gross tonnage of first-class steam trawlers
registered in England and Wales on 31 December, 1906–76. Values for
1952–59 include a relatively small fraction (~10%) of steam vessels
applying other fishing methods than trawling.
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
N
6 perspectives
21
7 acknowledgements
38
7. Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom (Contract
M0322). It was the enthusiasm of Laurence Kell that
initiated the inventory, and it was John Dann who located
the boxes with charts in various storage spaces and offices
of Cefas, with the help of Gary Burt. Richard Millner,
John Pinnegar and the Cefas library staff provided useful
support in tracking relevant old literature and data. Colin
Bannister, Ewen Bell, Trevor Boon, Trevor Hutton, Simon
Jennings, Graham Pilling, and Beatriz Roel are gratefully
acknowledged for valuable discussions and support.
I dedicate this paper to my father, Captain Herbert G.
Engelhard (born 12 June 1936, died 14 September 2003),
who served on deep-sea cargo vessels from 1955 until
1984. His rich stories about life at sea, the history of ships,
and the technology of steam and motor, were a source of
inspiration for me in writing the sections on fishing fleets,
even after his death.
39
8. References
8 references
Beverton, R.J.H. and Holt, S.J., 1957. On the dynamics of
exploited fish populations. Fish. Inv. Ser. II, 19: 1–533.
Borley, J.O. and Thursby-Pelham, D.E., 1925. Report on the
English plaice investigations in the North Sea, during the
years 1921–1923. Fish. Inv. Ser. II, 7 (6): 1–96.
Borley, J.O. and Thursby-Pelham, D.E., 1926. Distribution of
the food fishes in the North Sea during 1923 and 1924,
with notes on the natural history of the food fishes of the
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Statistical tables – Throughout the report, frequent
reference has been made to the following series providing
statistical tables on England and Wales; Scotland; and the
entire United Kingdom:
England and Wales:
Board of Trade, 1887. Sea Fisheries (England and Wales).
First Annual Report of the Inspector For the Year 1886.
London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Thereafter
published annually, until 1903 (providing statistics for
1902).
Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1904. Annual Report
of Proceedings Under Acts Relating to Sea Fisheries For
the Year 1903. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office.
Thereafter published annually, until 1912 (providing
statistics for 1911).
Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1913. Annual Report
on Sea Fisheries For the Year 1912. Part I.—Report. Part
II.—Tables and Charts. London: His Majesty’s Stationery
Office. Thereafter published annually, until 1915 (providing
statistics for 1914).
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1920. Fisheries in the
Great War, being the Report on Sea Fisheries For the
Years 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, of the Board of Agriculture
and Fisheries—Parts I and II. London: His Majesty’s
Stationery Office.
41
8 references
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1921. Sea Fisheries.—
Statistical Tables, 1919–1920. London: His Majesty’s
Stationery Office. Thereafter published annually, until
1939 (providing statistics for 1938).
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1946. Fisheries in War
Time: Report on the Sea Fisheries of England and Wales
for the Years 1939–1944 Inclusive. London: His Majesty’s
Stationery Office.
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1948. Sea Fisheries
Statistical Tables 1945–1946. London: His Majesty’s
Stationery Office.
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1948. Sea Fisheries
Statistical Tables 1947. London: His Majesty’s Stationery
Office. Thereafter published annually, until 1954 (providing
statistics for 1953).
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1955. Sea
Fisheries Statistical Tables 1954. London: Her Majesty’s
Stationery Office. Thereafter published annually, until
1991 (providing statistics for 1989). Note that while
statistical tables for years prior to 1964 refer to England
and Wales only, those from 1965 onwards include the
entire United Kingdom.
Scotland:
Scottish Home Department, 1952. Scottish Sea Fisheries
Statistical Tables for 1939–48. Edinburgh: Her Majesty’s
Stationary Office.
Scottish Home Department, 1951. Scottish Sea Fisheries
Statistical Tables for 1949. Edinburgh: Her Majesty’s
Stationary Office. Thereafter published annually, until
1959 (providing statistics for 1958).
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, 1960).
Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables 1959. Edinburgh:
Her Majesty’s Stationary Office. Thereafter published
annually, until 1965 (providing statistics for 1964).
United Kingdom:
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1967. Sea
Fisheries Statistical Tables 1965. London: Her Majesty’s
Stationery Office. Thereafter published annually, until
1991 (providing statistics for 1989).
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1994. UK Sea
Fisheries Statistics 1991 and 1992. London: Her Majesty’s
Stationery Office. Thereafter published annually, until
1999 (providing statistics for 1998).
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2001).
UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 1999 and 2000. London:
Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Thereafter published
annually, up to the present.
9. Electronic appendix
42
9. Electronic appendix
Supplementary information accompanies this paper in the
form of an electronic appendix available at:
www.cefas.co.uk/publications/techrep/techrep128.htm
The electronic appendix contains extensive information
on the numbers and coverage of the ‘Statistical Charts’
available at Cefas, Lowestoft Laboratory. It includes nine
searchable Microsoft Excel Workbooks, each dealing with
specific subsets of ‘Statistical Charts’, arranged according
to a split in ‘demersal’, ‘pelagic’, and ‘miscellaneous’
charts and in case of demersal charts, also according to
region. The workbooks in turn consist of one to several
spreadsheets, each dealing either with a specific fleet
component (demersal charts) or region (pelagic charts).
The spreadsheets provide information on the numbers
of annual and monthly charts available per year, species,
fleet component, and region, indicating the number code
of the corresponding box file containing the actual charts,
as stored at Cefas.
An overview of the workbooks and spreadsheets
included in the appendix is given in Table 6.
Table 6. Overview of Microsoft Excel workbooks and names of
spreadsheets included in the electronic appendix to this report,
available at www.cefas.co.uk, with reference to the sections in this
report providing descriptions of regions or fleet components.
Workbook
Spreadsheets
Section in current report
ChartsIV.xls
SteamTrawl
5.1.1
MotorTrawl
5.1.2
SailTrawl
5.1.3
SteamSeine
5.1.4
MotorSeine
5.1.5
SteamLine
5.1.6
MotorLine
5.1.7
ChartsVa.xls
Trawl
5.2.1
ChartsVb.xls
Trawl
5.2.2
ChartsVI.xls
SteamTrawl
5.3.1
MotorTrawl
5.3.1
MotorSeine
5.3.1
MotorTrawl
5.4.1, 5.4.2
MotorSeine
5.4.3
NorthSea
5.5.1
Faroe
5.5.2
WestofScotland
5.5.3
Channels
5.5.4
AllRegionsCharts.xls
AllFleets
5.6.1
TonnageCharts.xls
TrawlSeine
5.6.2
ScottishCharts.xls
Trawl
5.6.3
Seine
5.6.3
ChartsVII.xls
PelagicCharts.xls
43
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