86 NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 



3 of plaice, 1 of gurnard (Trigla gurnardus), 2 turbot, one 14 in. long, a 

 mature male, one 24 in., a mature female ; 25 large cod, and some small. 

 As usual, there were no small plaice, but many large, 20 in. long and 

 upwards. 



Thirteenth haul, 5 p.m. The depth of 1;" fathoms was obtained by 

 the lead. There were 7 turbot — 2 mature females, 29^ in. long, 5 mature 

 males, 14^ to 21 Hn.; 2 brill, 17i in. and 20 in., both mature females. 

 Also 10 baskets of kit haddock, 3 of gibbers, 3 of plaice, and 1 of 

 gurnards. About half a basketful of small haddocks, about 10 in. long, 

 were shovelled overboard with the dabs. The smallest of these were 

 6i in. long, but there were few as small as this. The smallest dab was 

 5 in., an immature female, but nearly all of them were mature and 

 spawning, many being nearly spent. 



Sixteenth haul, 4.30 p.m., May 21st. There were 3^ baskets of kit 

 haddock, 1 of gibbers, 3i of plaice, li of gurnards, a few codling and 

 rokcr. The plaice were nearly all large, none under 12 in. There was 

 1 brill, 12^ in., an immature female ; no turbot. 1 Acanthias vulgaris 

 and 1 Echinus were taken. 



At 6.30 p.m. we were steering E. by N., the depth 13 fathoms, bottom 

 fine sand. "VVe saw the Outer Horn Eeef Light after dark. 



Eighteenth haul, 5 a.m., May 22nd. There were 2 turbot, 25f in. and 

 27| in., both mature females ; 3 brill, 15|- to 18| in., all mature females ; 

 1 basket of large plaice, none under 12 in., about a basketful of haddock 

 and one of gurnard. 



In the last, or nineteenth haul, there were 2 soles, one 7i in. long, a 

 male, immature, one 11^ in., a male, mature. A few other soles were 

 taken during the voyage, but never more than 2 or 3 in one haul. 

 Ptoker, i.e., Ilaia clavata, and other species, were also taken, but I paid 

 no particular attention to them. The most important points noticed in 

 this voyage are the following : — 



No small plaice were thrown overboard, because none were taken 

 of so small a size as to be unmarketable. None of those taken were 

 less than 10|in. long, and a large proportion were 20 in. and upwards. 

 The captain said that when we were in sight of the Inner Horn licef 

 Light, we were on the same ground on which he obtained chiefly small 

 plaice in the previous March. Whatever the significance of that fact 

 may be, supposing it to be correct — and I have no reason to doubt it — 

 it is certain that the small plaice were not there in May. 



Only two or three lemon soles and an insignificant number of soles 

 were taken. A few immature turbot and brill were observed, but none 

 were under 12 in. in length. 



The only fish thrown overboard were the dabs, a comparatively small 

 number of small haddock, and some small gurnard and whiting. 



