NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 25 



In criticising and objecting to Holt's biological limit of 17 inches 

 for plaice, he maintained that the average size of plaice spawning for the 

 first time is much smaller in the German part of the North Sea than 

 in the English. He stated that as the plaice of the Baltic was, at corres- 

 ponding stages, a smaller race than the plaice of the North Sea, so 

 the plaice of the eastern side of the North Sea was smaller than that of 

 the northern and western parts. According to Heincke, the existence 

 of local differences biade not only the same closed areas and the same 

 close seasons for the whole North Sea, but also the same limit of 

 size, impossible. Heincke mentions no observations which support his 

 assertion, but it appears to rest on his own personal experience, and it 

 will be seen, from the observations above recorded by me, that Mr, 

 Holt's figures were probably somewhat too high. My present conclusion 

 is that although there is considerable variation in the size of plaice 

 spawning for the first time, there is no difference between a German 

 plaice and an English, To those engaged in the fish trade, it may 

 be very beneficial to have a limit of size, to exclude the small plaice, 

 because the uncertainty and risk of the business may be thereby 

 diminished, whether any benefit to the fishery is produced or not. 

 This seems to be especially the case at Billingsgate, although it is, 

 to a certain extent, true in other markets. At the former place, I 

 am informed that a considerable proportion of the smallest plaice 

 are worthless, or very nearly so, and the buyer is unable to judge 

 accurately of the value to himself of the box, as it is sold by auction. 

 The fish at the top of the box are of considerable size, and many a 

 poor dealer, I understand, finds great difficulty in retailing his plaice 

 without a loss. It is certain that numbers of the smallest plaice 

 are thrown away, both at Billingsgate and at the various shops, as 

 worthless, and are carted away for manure. There is practically no 

 demand for plaice 5 or 6 inches long, and dealers naturally object 

 to have to buy the goods they require mixed with a (quantity of rubbish 

 which is of no use to them, and often to pay good money for the 

 worthless fish. But all this has little to do with us ; we are only 

 concerned with the possibility of maintaining and increasing the natural 

 supply of the larger plaice. 



The limit proposed in the bill now before Parliament is 8 inches 

 for plaice. It is clear, from the facts given, that the effect of this, 

 if the law is enforced, will be to exclude the plaice mentioned above 

 — 5 to 8 inches in length. But the question is, how far this exclusion 

 will cause the fisherman to avoid certain grounds. It is very doubtful 

 if throwing the fish overboard will lead to their survival, except, 

 perhaps, in the case of small boats fishing in places like the Humber. 

 On the other hand, there is reason to believe that on the Eastern 



