NOKTII SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 41 



Seventh haul, 2 p.m. The depth where the buoy was put down was 

 12 fathoms. In this haul there were 4 turbot and 6 brill under 12 in., 

 out of a total of 18 turbot and 24 brill: this is nearly 25 per cent. 

 One brill, about 8 in. long, was thrown overboard dead. There were 18 

 pair of soles, none under 8 in., few, if any, under 10 in. There were 8 

 latchets. Of the rejected fish the plaice were 7j to 10 in., the haddock 

 about Hi in., the whiting about 13 in., and a number of grey gurnard 

 were also thrown over the side. There were saved : — 



2 baskets of small plaice. 



2 „ medium „ 12 to 15 in. long. 



2 „ haddock. 



I „ codling and dabs, 1 large cod. 



It is difficult to estimate exactly the number, or quantity, of small 

 plaice thrown overboard from this haul, but roughly, there were about 

 2 basketfuls, besides the dabs, gurnards, small haddock and whiting. 



When the trawl came up, I was called to see a small sole, caught in 

 a crevice of the ground rope. It proved to be a Solca liitca. 



I did not see a sole less than 9 or 10 in. in length all the voyage and 

 believe that, if caught at all, they escape through the meshes. Several 

 of the smaller that are caught are nearly through the meshes when the 

 net is hauled and are dragged through by the men, by hand, as the net 

 comes up. 



Eighth haul. Trawl up at 8 p.m., after fishing round the buoy. There 

 were 90 turbot and brill, all rather small, but I only noted 2 turbot 

 and 3 brill under 12 in. Of plaice, the smallest in the haul was 7i in. 

 long ; 2 baskets of the medium size were saved, they were from 12| to 

 IS.Hn. long; also 2 baskets of small, 10 in. to 12i in. About 3 

 basketfuls were thrown overboard. There were 30 pairs of soles, the 

 smallest Hi in. long. As usual, there were some latchets, and 1 

 Acanthias vulgaris was taken. 2 baskets of haddock were saved. 



Ninth haul, 2 a.m., June 8th. At the commencement of this haul, the 

 Amrum Light was seen on the horizon, bearing E. by N. and distant 

 about 20 miles ; this gives, with sufficient accuracy, the position of the 

 fishing ground. A lantern was attached to the top of the buoyed llag- 

 staff, at dusk, the previous evening. The fish saved were : — 



3 baskets medium plaice. 

 5 „ small. 



2 „ gibbed haddock. 



4 „ kit 

 58 pair soles. 



70 turbot and brill. 



12 latchets, 2 cod, 10 codling. 



A basket dabs. 



