Historical Catch Return Database

This database consists of a collection of historical commercial catch return datasets that were transcribed (digitised manually) from printed books and scanned copies of catch-return data sheets. Many of the latter were hand-written.

`Harbour returns` are monthly summaries (numbers) of the commercial fish species landed at harbours from Lamberts Bay to East London, as provided in the Department of Agriculture `Report of the Marine Biologist` (1897-1900) and `Report of the Government Biologist` (1900-1906) publications. The table called `Boat registration data` contains information on the numbers and types of vessels and gear used at various harbours around South Africa between 1897 and 1906. These data were digitized from the same publications as the harbour returns and provide some insight into what gear was used to yield those harbour returns.

`Linefish returns` are daily catch returns (numbers but with weekly totals in weight) for commercial line fish species at harbours ranging from Lamberts Bay to Jeffreys Bay and covering the period 1922-1935. These data were captured from catch return sheets that are lodged at the Western Cape Archives in Roeland street in Cape Town.

`Trawl returns` are monthly catches (by weight) from trawlers at South African Harbours (Port Nolloth to Durban) between 1921 and 1960. They were digitized from catch return sheets that are also in the Western Cape Archives.
Most tables in the database have a `RecentComment` column in which any notes pertaining to the record are included. An attempt has been made to make comments in these columns of limitations or peculiarities of the records in question. Users are advised to consult any entries in this column before performing analyses. These recently added comments are not to be confused with historical comments made in the original reports or sheets, which are included in columns headed `Remarks`.

Authors who intend to use these data are strongly encouraged to consult the series of historical reports and the catch return sheets from which these data have been digitized.
The two datasets which were digitized from original catch return sheets (Linefish Returns and Trawler Returns) contain a column titled `Image` in the appropriate tables. The numbers in this column indicate the number relating to the scanned image of the original sheet from which the data were captured (scanned images are numbered IMG0001.JPG, IMG0002.JPG...etc.). Please note, there is some overlap of image numbers for some linefish records (and between different catch return datasets, e.g. trawler returns and linefish returns), so image numbers are NOT necessarily unique identifiers of historical sheets.