NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 13 



Other steam trawlers, but not many, were fishing on the Great 

 Fisher Bank, at depths of 35 to 50 fathoms. The chief item in their 

 takes was haddock, some vessels bringing in 200 to 300 boxes of 

 large haddock, and G to 27 boxes of small. They also got usually 

 about 8 to 10 boxes of large plaice, 5 or 6 boxes of witches (Flcuronectes 

 cynofflossus), a few large turbot, a few halibut, rarely a brill, skate, 

 roker, cat-fishes, and "monks" {Lophius piscatorius). 



Some of the smaller steam trawlers, and some sailing smacks, were 

 fishing the Great Silver Pit, on the south edge of the Dogger Bank, 

 and here, as usual in cold winters, considerable numbers of soles were 

 taken, 10 boxes down to 2 or 3 being the usual ([uantity. Usually 

 I only saw 2i- or 3 boxes of soles landed by a sailing smack, and 5 to 7 

 by a steamer ; but once I saw 10 boxes from a single smack. On this 

 ground haddocks were taken in moderate numbers, also a few boxes 

 of plaice, whiting, dabs, some cod and codling, and ling ; turbot were 

 rather plentiful, brill less so. 



Others of the smaller steamers fished within a radius of 50 miles 

 from Spurn Head to the east and south-east. These brought in mixed 

 catches — sometimes a number of turbot and brill, a few soles, haddock, 

 plaice, cod, roker, and skate. These grounds appear to be fished more or 

 less regularly all the year round. 



The first voyage of small plaice from the Eastern Grounds was landed 

 on March 20th. There were 246 boxes of the small, 29 somewhat 

 larger, and also 4 brill and 1 turbot; but no other fish. They were 

 taken on the Sylt Ground, at 13 to 17 fathoms, south of the Outer 

 Horn Eeef Lightship. These fish fetched lis. to 12s. per box, the 

 larger 18s., while on March 15th the ordinary large plaice sold for 

 34s. 6d. per box. Another voyage of 230 boxes was landed on March 

 21st, also from the Sylt rough ground, and another on March 25th, 

 consisting of 150 boxes, from the same neighbourhood. In this last 

 voyage there was a box of small turbot, containing 90 to 100 fish, 

 mostly about 1 foot in length. 



In the latter part of March, many steam trawlers were fishing the 

 grounds south of the Dogger Bank, namely. Well Bank, and a place 

 called Markham's Hole, which is 80 miles east of Spurn Head. These 

 grounds are on the south side of the valley called the Silver Pit, 

 and are from 15 to 20 fathoms deep; but the Hole, so far as I can 

 judge, is one of the depressions which descend to 40 fathoms. The 

 catches were mixed, consisting of about 50 to 70 boxes of haddock, 

 about 70 cod, a few boxes of plaice, some soles, lemon soles, and 

 whiting, and a few brill and turbot. 



In April, although occasional catches were brought in from the 

 Flamborough Head ground, and from the Great Fisher Bank, a number 



