NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 27 



Sept. 15. About same distance; 9 fms. A slightly larger number, 

 7iin. to lOiin. 



August 30. Depth, 11 fms. About 26 lbs., 6| in. to 121 in. 



August 31. Depth, 8^ fms. About 175 lbs., 4 in. to lOfin. ; one in 

 114 fish was 20| in. 



Sept. 1. Depth, 12 fms. About 9G lbs., 61 in. to 9 J in. 



For the records given a sample only was measured ; but in all cases 

 a large proportion were under 8 in., and few over 10 in. 



Second Group of Trawlings. 



August 24. Depth, 15 to 17 fms. 460 plaice; of 25 measured, 15 

 Bin. to 8 gin., 10 8 i in. to 91 in. 



August 28. Depth, 14 fms. 52 lbs., 8 in. to 11} in. 



August 29-30. Depth, 15 fms. 70 lbs., 8 in. to lllin., and a few 

 up to 14f in. 



Sept. 5. Depth, 15 fms. 17| lbs., ^m. to llfin. 



Sept. 5. Depth, 15 fms. 32 lbs., 8f in. to 14 in. 



Sept. 5-6. Depth, 16 fms. 119 lbs., 8f in. to llfin. 



Sept. 20-21. Depth, 16 fms. 119 lbs., 5f in. to lOf in. 



This last haul was about 15 miles from the coast of the island of 

 Terschelling. 



Third Group of Traivlings. 



Sept. 11-12. Depth, 17 fms. 35 lbs. smaller, 17Hbs. larger; 8 in. 

 to 14 in., some up to 18f in, 



Sept. 12. Depth, 17 fms. 24 plaice, 7| in. to 18} in. 

 Sept. 12-13. Depth, 17 fms. 52i lbs., ^ in. to 14f in. 



The exact proportions below different limits cannot be ascertained, 

 but the above data indicate that a limit of 8 in. would go far to make 

 the ground where the first group were carried out unprofitable. The 

 different sizes on the different grounds are well brought out by the 

 average lengths given. 



Thus in the first group the averages were : — 



6fin., Sfin., S/jyin., 7-^ in., C^-ins., 7f ins. 



In the second group : — 



8^ in., 9i^o in., a little less than 10 in., 9-^ in., 10 in., 9^ in. 



In the third group : — 

 11} in., 12 in., 12 in. 



In Denmark the limit for plaice by law is now 8 in. to tlie root of 

 the tail, or very nearly 10 in., including the tail. In Belgium the limit 

 enforced is 7] in. (18 cm.). In France it is 5'} in., while in Holland the 

 only limit is 3] in. for flounders, and there is no law for plaice. 



