NORTH SEA FISH

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 36, 11 August 1923, Page 14

NORTH SEA FISH

RESTOCKING THE DOGGERBANK.

The question of the shortage of fish in the North Sea, of which the fishermen are complaining, is undeY consideration by the Ministry of Agriculture and I'isnenes, states the "Daily Mail." Mr. H. G.. Maurice, "secretary of the Fisheries Department, said recently: "It is true that the returns show a gradual diminution in the number of fish being caught, and particularly in the Case of plaice,, which is one of the most valuable forms of fish for the home -markets:" tvt !£"L g fte D°S^er Bank, the best JNortn Sea : fishing ground, the decrease m-steam trawler .catches since, 1919 is shown by the following figures of cwt.' caught per 100 hours' fishine -—1920 148; 1921, 145; 1922, 140. age of plaice is due to the fish being of sedentary habits, and therefore suffering more from intensive fishine than more active fish. ■

_lhe International Council for the Exploration of the Sea at their last meeting at Copenhagen proposed that a zone of the coastal waters of Denmark, Holland, and Belgium should bo closed to all steam trawlers and motor trawlers of more than 50 h.p for the enhre year and a further zone for nine months of the year. This zone is about 300 miles long and extends to about 25 miles, from the coast. It is a fruitful breeding ground for plaice. : From this "preserye'kljt is proposed to transplant fish wh& sufficiently gS?r\ £ n the ' Bank > starting with 1,00Q,000 the first year, and increasing this number. at the rate ol 1,000,000 a year if successful. British fishermen complain that while they are debarred by this scheme from fishing on tha preserve, the fishermen of the countries along whose coasts it runs will be able to fish it in sailing craft as much as they like. The Fisheries Department replies that it is impossible to define the zone as to prevent • the Continental fishermen from using it; also that the nets used by the Danes are of a more selective character than those of powerful trawlers. Small fish are able to slip through their and even if brought to the surface are done so undamaged and fit for return to the sea.

The question of who shall pay for the transplantation is now under consideration. Since the bulk of the fish taken off the Dogger Bank are caught by British fishermen, it is urged that Great Britain should bear the brunt of the cost.