Contributions to the Biology of the Mackerel Scomber Scombrus L. II. A Study of the Fishery in the South-West of England, with Special Reference to Spawning, Feeding, and ‘Fishermen's Signs’

Abstract

In a previous paper (Steven, 1948), brief accounts are given of three distinct mackerel fisheries that at one time existed in the south-west of England—an inshore fishery in the English Channel carried on from Plymouth, a deep-sea fishery from Newlyn, Cornwall, and an inshore fishery from Newlyn and some other Cornish ports. One of these fisheries, the Plymouth one, no longer exists. After a few years of considerable activity following the termination of the 1914–18 war, this fishery collapsed in 1924 (Table I) and came entirely to an end a few years later. The small quantities of mackerel landed at Plymouth in subsequent years have been incidental catches by vessels fishing for herrings or pilchards.