Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 137.djvu/674

668 though the chief, are not the only offenders. The large increase in the number of vessels, particularly steamers, which perpetually come up and down the waters near the shore, may not be without some influence on the fish. Indeed, when we find how many circumstances are considered to affect the peace of mind of our sea-fishes, we cannot be surprised if they are occasionally "disturbed." The following are some of the causes given in the returns of the Coast-guard officers, as producing a decrease of fish in the inshore waters of their districts, and are to be found in the Appendix to the Commissioners' Report: "Shifting of banks," "change in set of currents," "washing of artificial manures from the land," "firing guns from forts," "excursion steamers," "dog-fish," "cutting sea-weed," "ashes thrown from steamers," "French boats throwing guts of herring into the sea," and in one case, "the sinking of a French vessel laden with paraffin-oil."

On the whole, it still remains an open question whether it can be established that disturbance has any effect upon the fisheries at all. Given its possibility, it is clear, from what we have seen, that there may be other disturbers besides the trawlers. But whatever the truth concerning it, "disturbance" is not really a question of vital importance. The disturbed fish may go to other banks and be caught there – at any rate, their place will be taken by others if the water is left quiet; for of mere disturbance causing fish permanently to desert any fishing-ground, there is as yet no evidence whatever. In the case, however, of "exhaustion" by over-fishing, much more serious issues are involved.

Repeated instances are given in the evidence taken by the Commissioners, where, after trawlers have been at work upon a ground, the fish-supply begins to diminish, and on their continuing to work, continues to diminish. Indeed the trawlers themselves virtually allow this, admitting that it is part of their system to change their ground from time to time, as they find a falling off in their takes. Professor M'Intosh, too, does not hesitate to attribute to trawling a "considerable effect" on the inshore fisheries at Aberdeen and elsewhere, and in his evidence (Ans. 12,348) the following passage occurs: "Your experience in St Andrews Bay is to this effect: that a limited area may be trawled out, but that after a time it may be restocked with fish." – "Restocked with fish." And Professor Cossar Ewart, of the Scotch Fishery Board, agrees (1268) with this conclusion.

Now it is clear that if the supply of fish in a given area can be perceptibly diminished by fishing, it only requires over-fishing to produce exhaustion. Nor are we able to console ourselves with the reflection that this possibility is confined to narrow waters. If, as the Commissioners say, "continuous fishing with such an effective implement as the beam-trawl, within a limited area, may sensibly diminish the number of fish," the large offshore banks are just as liable to exhaustion as the inshore ones, provided they are subjected to a proportionate strain upon their resources. Now once this is allowed, the exhaustion of all fishing-grounds is a mere question of time. At present, as we have observed, exhaustion has not showed itself on any general scale. There is, however, no reason why, if fishing continues to develop at the rate that