[ 1" ] 



North Sea Investigations. 



By 

 J. T. Cunningham, M.A. 



TAGE 



I. Statistics of Small Fish landed at Grimsby . . ... 10 



II. Notes on the General Course of the Fishing . . . . . 12 



III. Observations on the Natural History of Plaice . . . . 15 



IV. On the Relations of the Generative Organs, and of the Sexes, in some Fishes 28 

 V. Two Trips to the Eastern Grounds . . ... 33 



In accordance with instructions from the Council of the Association, 

 I arrived in Cleethorpes on February 4th last, and proceeded to make 

 investigations into the biological questions presented by the fisheries in 

 the North Sea. A large portion of my time was, however, absorbed by 

 the work of preparing a summary of our knowledge of the natural 

 history of marketable marine fishes, for publication in book form, and 

 consequently the observations to be here recorded are not so extensive 

 nor so complete as I should have otherwise been able to make them. 

 It must also be noted that they are confined to a period of only three 

 months — from the beginning of February to the end of April. The 

 work has consisted only of observations in the fish market at Grimsby 

 Docks, and of the examination of fish there procured in the Cleethorpes 

 Hatchery ; I have not been able to make any voyages on fishing boats. 

 1 have received from Mr. Holt, my predecessor at this post, all the 

 assistance that information concerning persons and circumstances could 

 afford me, and I have had the valuable services of Mr. Clark, the care- 

 taker of the Hatchery. 



I. Statistics of Small Fish Landed at Grimsby. 



The statistics to be here recorded are in continuation of those 

 published in precedhig numbers of the journal by Mr. Holt. My 

 responsibility for them consists only in the addition of the figures, and 

 tlie comparisons made. The counting of the boxes in the market has 



