NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 45 



2 ripe female sprats, 1 hake, and 1 Acanthias vulgaris were also 

 taken. About 2 basketfuls of small plaice, dabs, and gurnard thrown 

 over. 



Seventeenth haul, 2.o0 a.m., June lOth. During this haul we steered 

 again towards the land, with the result of getting more small plaice and 

 more soles, and fewer haddock. The fish saved were : — 



4 baskets medium plaice. 

 11| „ small plaice. 

 2 „ haddock. 

 1 basket codling and dabs. 

 48 pair of soles. 



A few brill and turbot, and a dozen latchets. About 20 basketfuls 

 of small plaice, &c., thrown over. 



Eighteenth haul, 8.;30 a.m., June 10th. At 8 a.m. Heligoland was 

 plainly visible, bearing S. by W., and about 14 miles distant. The fish 



saved were: — a -u ^ ^ ^■ ^ • 



4 baskets medium plaice. 



1\ „ small plaice, 



i- „ gibbed haddock. 



2 „ kit haddock. 



14 pair of soles, the smallest 9| in. 



About 27 turbot and brill. 



The smallest plaice was 6| in. long. There was a quantity of soft 

 dark-coloured fine sand among the fish. 



Nineteenth haul, 2.30 p.m., June 10th. At 1 p.m. Heligoland was 

 bearing S.S.W. The fish were on deck at 2.50 p.m., and at 3.10 many 

 of the small plaice, dabs, &c., were being shovelled overboard, and many 

 were alive. Those shovelled over towards the end of the work of sorting 

 and gutting are nearly all dead. I counted the sexes in a number of the 

 larger or medium-sized plaice, and found 99 females to 43 males, 

 the largest female being 16^ in., the largest male 1G| in. The smallest 

 plaice in the haul was G in. long. According to the mate's reckoning, 

 there were only 8 pair of soles ; I counted 32 soles, the mate neglecting 

 the slips. The small plaice were very abundant, the other fish saved 



° ' 4i baskets medium plaice. 



13 „ small plaice. 

 1 basket haddock. 



1 „ dabs and codling, 1 large cod. 



14 turbot and brill, 1 small turbot being only 9 in. long. 



Twentieth haul, 8.30 p.m., June 10th. We steered to the north and 

 somewhat nearer to the land this haul, in order to find more soles : we 



