46 NORTH SEA. INVESTIGATIONS. 



were out of sight of Heligoland. We sounded 71 fathoms some time 

 before G.4o p.m., and at that time 10 fathoms, the ground being sharp 

 gravelly sand. There were a large number of German " snibs " in 

 sight. These vessels are of shallow draft, only partially decked, and 

 smack rigged. They carry small trawls, only about 20 feet long, which 

 they pull up by hand. Tliey must take a large number of the small 

 plaice, but whether they destroy them or not I do not know. Probably 

 they fish principally for the sake of the soles. 



This haul produced more soles and fewer plaice than the previous 

 one, which was taken further to the southward : — 



1 basket medium plaice. 



6 ,, small plaice. 



3?) pairs of soles. 



1 turbot 9 in. long, 1 turbot 92 in. 



Twenty-first haul, 3 a.m., June 11th. As usual in a night haul, soles 

 were taken this time more abundantly : no detailed observations on the 

 fish were made by me. The marketable part of the catch comprised : — 



1 basket medium plaice. 

 5 „ small „ 



2 „ haddock. 

 50 pairs of soles. 



19 turbot and brill, none large. 



3 latchets, a few whiting, dabs, and codling. 



Twenty-second haul, 10 a.m., June 11th. This was the last haul: 

 we started at full speed for Grimsby at 10.20. 



At 9 a.m. Heligoland was in sight, bearing S. by W. 15 to 18 miles 

 distant and I counted 25 foreign " snibs " in sight. 



This haul there were taken 25 turbot, 8 brill. I examined a number 

 of them, namely, 15 turbot and 3 brill. Of the former 12 were mature 

 males, G of them 13 in. long ; 2, 14 in. ; 1, 19 in., and 3, 20 in. Of the 3 

 females, one 15 in. long was immature, two 22 in. long were mature. Of the 

 brill two were mature males 10 in. and 14^ in. long, the third was an 

 immature female 12 in. long. 



The rest of the fish saved were : — 



3 J baskets medium plaice. 



4 „ small „ 

 3 I „ haddock. 



10 soles — 4 large, G slips. 

 Some whiting, latchets, and cod. 



In one haddock's stomach I found Trophonia, whitings, and a dab ; in 

 another, brittle stars. 



