APPENDIXES

Remark: The appendixes are published in the name and on the respon­

sibility o f the different authors.

4

S U P P L E M E N T

THE FISHERIES ON THE MURMAN COAST (NORTH RUSSIA)

B y L. B R E I T F U S S

Importance of The rude c l im a t ic co n d it io n s in t h e nor thern parts o f the province o f A r c h a n g e l

pe r m it th e cu lture o f th e land to but a very sm a l l ex ten t . T he people o f th o se parts —

e sp ec ia l ly o f th e to w n o f K o la and th e so -ca l led “ P o m o ren ” l iv in g on th e c o a sts o f the

W h it e S ea — are th u s dr iven to th e M urm an coast , where the so u th ern parts o f the

B a r en ts Sea are a lw a y s free o f ice . F rom t h i s coast , th e y carry on a f ishery under great

diff icu lt ies in the in h o sp i ta b le A r c t ic O cean .

A t th e p r esen t day, th e M u r m a n f ishery p lays a very im p o r ta n t role in th e l i fe o f

northern R u s s ia , as a la rg e portion o f th e in h a b ita n ts o f th e d is tr ic ts O nega , K em and

A le x a n d r o w sk in th e prov ince o f A r c h a n g e l are en g a g ed in the actual f i sh e r y , and a

second portion in t r a n sp o r t in g th e fish to A r c h a n g e l and St. P e te rsb u rg in the ir sm a ll

scho o n ers . A b o u t V ards o f the a n n u a l c a t c h , w h ich am o un ts to be tw een 5 0 0 — 6 0 0 t h o u ­

san ds p u d s 1 i s br o u g h t to S t . P e te r s b u r g and B a lt ic p a r ts , and only abou t ' /3 rd o f the

to ta l g o e s to A r c h a n g e l and ports on th e W h i t e Sea. T his m ea n s t h a t only an in s ig n i f ­

i c a n t ly sm a l l portion o f th e en t ire c o n su m p t io n in the north is su p p lied ; th e m a in supply

for th e nor thern prov inces , o f A r c h a n g e lsk , W o lo g d a and W jatka, c o m es from N o r w a y , and

a m o u n ts to 1— I V 2 m i l l io n puds.

T h e im p o r t o f N o r w e g ia n fish i s a ided to th e exten t , that i t can be land ed in A r c h ­

a n g e l free o f duty i f b r o u g h t in R u ss ia n s h ip s ; th is is not perm itted , h o w e v e r , in the

Russian ports 011 th e B a l t ic . T h e reasons for th is are, on the one hand to e n co u ra g e the

sh ip p in g in th e n o r th , and on th e other h a n d to protect th e re lat ively feeb le M urm an

fishery from c o m p e t it io n .

Age oi the fishery T he M u rm a n fishery i s o f very a n c ien t date . T he old chron ic les o f th e I X t h cen tury

te l l o f th e vo y a g es o f th e R u ss ia n s in the northern A rctic Ocean. In th e X V t h and X V I t h

cen tur ies , th e R u ss ia n s n o t on ly en g a g e d in th e cod-fishery on th e M urm an coast , th a t is ,

the nor thern co a s t o f th e K o la p e n in su la , but also carried on a not in co n s id era b le fishery

011 the co a sts o f F in m a rk . In a report d a t in g from 1774 , the n u m ber o f R u ss ia n f isherm en

was e s t im a ted to be 1 3 0 0 a t t h a t t im e , w h ereas the num ber of f ish erm en ’s fa m ilie s se t t led

in F inm ark w a s only 3 0 0 . In th e report o f the d istr ict-officer for 177 5 , w e read: “ the

Russians have w i th o u t d o u b t f ished m ore than the subjects o f h is M ajesty th e K in g o f

1 1 jiud = 10 kilograms — 35'3 Eng. Ibs.

— 123 — APPENDIX J: SUPPLEMENT

Denmark"; and in 1770, a trader in Vardö wrote to his principal in Bergen: “it is not only that the Russians are supplanting the inhabitants at the fisheries, but they even go round the fish-markets to buy up and barter for the fish; this they can do much more easily than we can, as they pay double the price permitted us by law” (Norsk Fiskeri­tidende, 1900. 4. Hefte, p. 510).

At that time, the Pomoren were accustomed to undertake venturesome voyages, even to Spitsbergen and Nova Zembla, in their archaic “Schnjake” in search of seals and the white whale.

In the second half of the XVIlIth century, however, a great change took place in the economic conditions of the northern provinces of both kingdoms, due to a rapid devel­opment of the northern parts of Norway, and a decline in the trade and industry ofArchangel, all to the advantage of Norway.

The fishery on the Murman coast is carried on in the period from June to October. TheJ r species of nshe-s

The most important species is the cod (Gadus callarias L.), which contributes far more than the half of all the fish taken on the coast and is of double the value (1 to 1*20roubles1 per pud of the haddock (Gadus aeglefinus L.). The latter comes second inimportance, then the saithe (Gadus virens L.), and in smaller quantities the halibut (Hippoglossus vulgaris Flem.), cat-fishes (Anarrhicas lupus L., A. m inor Mftll. and A. latifrons Steenstr.), Norway haddock (Sebastes norvegicus Asc.), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.), flounder (Pleuronectes flesus L.) and others.

The fresh-fish industry is not carried on here at all, from lack of good communi­cations with other parts. Apart from the quantities used for home consumption by thefishermen, the entire catch is salted.

According to the official statistics, which are somewhat defective, unfortunately, the Number of_ ̂ < J fishermen and

number of fishermen and the dimensions of the fishery during the period from 1880—1902, results of the were as follows:

Year Fishermen Quantity (puds)

1880—1883............. ........... 2987 749,8751 8 8 4 -1 88 7 ............. ........... 3836 486,8831888—1891............. ........... 3053 504,3201892.......................... ........... 3099 777,5201893.......................... ........... 3084 639,8471894.......................... ........... 3988 779,8861895.......................... ........... 3774 839,1651896.......................... ........... 3640 548,8451897.......................... ........... 4030 650,0271898.......................... ........... 4232 501,0941899.......................... ........... 4018 474,2631900.......................... ........... 4241 499,5411901.......................... ........... 3662 610,3821902.......................... ........... 3293 402,331

In these figures, only the sea-fishes, practically only the cod and haddock are included. The salmon fishery, which is also somewhat important, is not taken account of here.

1 10 rubles (£old) — £ l —l l —8.

16*

APPENDIX J: SUPPLEMENT — 124 -

Numbero t bouts According to the official statistics, the num ber of fishing boats during the period 1893

— 1902 was as follows:

1 8 9 3 ................. ............ 769 boats 1 8 9 8 ................. .............. 1062 boats

1 8 9 4 ................. ............ 997 - 1 8 9 9 ................. .............. 9 0 8 1 —

1 8 9 5 ................. ............ 963 — 19 0 0 ................. .............. 964 —

1 8 9 6 ................. ............ 948 — 1 9 0 1 ................. .............. 967 —

1 8 9 7 ................. ............ 945 — 1 9 0 2 ................. .............. 922 —

Type of bo»t The boats on the M urm an coast are all open and of four different types:

1) Schnjaken with ca. 240 pud capacity

2) Troiniks - - 130

3) Nordland-boats - - 100

4) K arbass - 75

In a very few cases, decked cu tters are also used in addition to these. Bach boat

carries 2— 4 men. Long-lines are the chief methods of fishing, hand-lines to a less degree.

The 988 boats of 1899 were d istributed am ongst the various types of boat as follows:

S c h n ja k e n ................................................... . 453 or 45-9 %

T ro in iks ........................................................ . 154 - 15-6 -

N ord land -boats .......................................... . 190 - 19-2 -

K a r b a s s ........................................................ . 118 - 11-9 -

Larger decked and undecked boats. . 73 - 7-4 -

988

The following publications have appeared in the Russian language:

1. Annual Reports of the Statistical Committee of the Province of Archangel. 1864

et seq.

2. Statistical Investigations on the M urm an Coast in the years, 1900,1901 and 1902 (no

fishery statistics), Vol. I —IV published by the Committee for the support of the

Pomoren of North Russia. St. Petersburg, 1902— 1904.

1 988 boats, according to the statistics of the Committee for the support of the Pomoren of North Russia.

*

*

LIST OF THE TABLES

Page

I . Sweden: Value of the fisheries on the west coast of Sw eden ............................................... 5I I . — Swedish Herring-fishery of Bohuslän and the K a tte g a t ........................................ 7

I I I . — Average gross earnings of the autumn and winter herring-fisheries of Bohuslän 9IV . Norway: Average annual quantity and market-value of the Norwegian fisheries since 1866 14

V. — The Yield of the Lofoten fishery during the years 1872— 1903........................ 15V I. — Principal Norwegian fisheries ................................................................................................. 16

V II . — Deep-sea fisheries of Norway ................................................................................................. 17V II I . — Average market-value of the principal Norwegian fisheries since 1866 ................ 17

TX. — Number of fishermen engaged in the chief Norwegian fisheries................................ 18X. Denmark: Value of the Danish fisheries.......................................................................................... 21

X I. — Fisheries on the west coast and north-west coast of J u t l a n d ............................ 22X II . — Quantities of Cod, Haddock and Plaice, landed on the west coast of Ju tland over

a period of y e a r s ........................................................................................................................ 24X I I I . — The proportions of the species landed on the west coast of D enm ark................... 24X IV . — Average price of Cod, Haddock and Plaice on the west coast of J u t l a n d 25X V . — Fishing-boats on the west coast of Ju t la n d ............................................................... 27

X IV . — Data of the fishing of Frederikshavn cutters during 1902 — 03 ............................... 28X V II . Germany: Review of the German Herring fishery 1872—1903 ..................................................... 30

X V II I . — Fishing boats of the Elbe and west coast of Schleswig-Holstein ............................ 32X IX . — Sailing vessels engaged in the North Sea fisheries beyond the coastal waters and

which do not fish exclusively with drift-nets................................................................... 33X X . — Development of the German steam fishing fleet from 1885—1903 .......................... 34

* X X I. — Development of the fish-auctions a t the four principal m a r k e t s ............................. 34X X II . — Num ber of boats engaged in the line f ish e ry .................................................................. 36

X X II I . — Results of the line fishery, 1886—1902 ................................................................................ 36

X X IV . — Total quantity of the German seafisheries (North S e a ) ................................................. 46X X V . — Total value of the German seafisheries (North S e a ) ........................................................ 48

X X V I. — Value of the various species landed in G erm any.............................................................. 49X X V II . — Composition of the German fishing fleet September 1“ 1903 ........................................ 50

X X V II I . — L ist of the unregistered German fishing vesse ls ............................................................. 50

X X IX . — Num ber of German vessels engaged in the fisheries of the N orth Sea beyond thecoastal waters ................ 52

X X X . — Num ber of German boats engaged in the drift-net fishery ......................................... 53X X X I. — H erring fishery of sailing vessels............................................................................................. 54

X X X II . — H erring fishery of steamers and motor b o a ts ..................................................................... 54X X X III . — Fish landed in Altona from sailing vossels during 1900 —03 ..................................... 55X X X IV . — Fish landed in Altona from trawlers during 1900—03 .................................................. 56X X X V . — Fish landed a t Ham burg by the Finkenwärder sailing vessels, from 1900—03. . 56

X X X V I. — Product of the voyages of the Hamburg steamers during 1896—1901 ................. 56X X X V II . — Quantity per year and per voyage of Hamburg steam ers.............................................. 57

X X X V III . — Price of the principal species sold a t Altona and Geestemünde for th e period1892 -1 9 0 3 ...................................................................................................................................... 57

APPENDIX J _ 126 —

Page

X X X IX . Holland : Development of the Dutch herring fisheries since 1853 .......................................... 59XL. — Iceland Cod fishery of Holland in the 18th century .................................... 60

X LI. — Value of the three main branches of the North Sea fisheries.................. 70X L II . — Value of the different f ish es............................................................................................ 71

X L III . — Value per ton or kilogram of different f ish e s ............................................................. 72X L IV . — Product of the Dutch seafisheries for the period 1892—1903 ................................... 74

XLV. — Number of boats used in the main branches of Dutch North Sea fisheries.. . . 75X LV I. — Number of boats of Dutch North Sea fisheries, regardless of the use, with the size 76

X L V II. — Horring-fishery 1892—1903, average income per b o a t ............................... 77X L V III . — Longline-fishery : Middelharnis, average catch per boat............................. 78

X L V III I . — Longline-fishery: Vlaardingen, average income and catch per b o a t ...... 78L. — Trawlfishery Helder, average income and catch per voyage..................... 79

L I. — Trawling in winter and early spring with bumboats (Scheveningen, Katwijk andNordwijk)............................................................................................................... 80

L II . — Trawlfish landed in Ymuiden : 1900—03. Income per voyage for the differenttypes of b o a t ........................................................................................................................ 81

L I I I . — Trawlfish landed in Ymuiden: 1900—08. Catch of Haddock, Plaice, Sole andDab, for the different types of b o a ts ............................................................................ 81

LIV . Belgium : Quantities of Cod landed by Belgian fisherboats.............................................................. 87LV. — Value of the Herrings caught by Belgian fisherm en................................................. 87

LV I. — Value of the fresh fish caught by Belgian fishermen................................................. 88L V II. — Total value of the Belgian seafisheries.......................................................................... 89

L V III . — Value of the fish sold a t the Ostende M arke t............................................................. 90LIX . — Fishing boats of the different Belgian harbours........................................................... 91

LX. France: Codfishery near Iceland and in the North Sea (combined)........................................ 93LX I. — Idem (separately).................................................................................................................. 94

L X II. — North Sea herring-fishery.................................................................................................. 94L X III . — North Sea fisheries............................................................................................................... 95LXIV. England: Quantities of fish landed .................................................................................................... 101LXV. — Value of fish landed ............................................................................................................ 102

LXV I. — Quantities and values of the named spocies, landed during 1902 .......................... 103L X V II. — Average price of brill, sole and turbot in England since 1898................................ 104

L X V III. — Average price of fish landed in England....................................................................... 105LX IX . — Average monthly quantities of fish landed on the east coast of England during

the years 1890—1902......................................................................................................... 106LXX. — Number and nature of employment of fishing-boats in E n g la n d ............................ 107

L X X I. — Tonnage of the first-class boats engaged in trawling................................................ 107L X X II. Scotland: Quantities of fish la n d e d .................................................................................................... 112

L X X III . — Value of fish landed from 1886—1903............................................................................ 112I jX XIV . — Quantities of Plaice etc. landed in Aberdeen................................................................ 115

LXXV. — Average price of fish landed in Scotland...................................................................... 116LXX VI. — Total number, type and value of the boats engaged in the Scottish fisheries . . 118

L X X V II. — Progress of the line and drift-net fisheries on the east coast of Scotland 119L X X V III. — Average gross amount (quantity and value) taken annually by the fishermen on

the east coast of Scotland (including Orkney and Shetland)................................... 120

A P P E N D I X K

STATISTICS OF THE NORTH SEA FISHERIES0

P A R T 11

SUMMARY OF THE AVAILABLE FISHERIES STATISTICS AND

THEIR VALUE FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEMS OF OVERFISHING

BY

H. M. KYLE

W I T H 1 C H A R T AND T WO F I G U R E S I N T H E T E X T