NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS, 131 



southern ground was 13 to 20 fathoms, on the northern 7i to 14 

 fathoms. It is plain, therefore, that the ground of the Brown Ridges is 

 considerably deeper and farther seaward than that which I studied in 

 June, in the s.s. John Bull, from Grimsby. 



The comparison of the fish on the two grounds is as follows : — 



The plaice on the northern ground did not exceed 17in. ; the largest 

 was 16f in. long. On the southern ground very few plaice exceeded this 

 limit, but I measured one which was 17i in. long. On the northern 

 ground the minimum length of plaice was only 5 in., while in the 

 southern none were taken which were under 9 in. On the northern 

 ground two or three basketf uls, or even more sometimes, of small plaice 

 under 10 in. were thrown over at each haul ; on the southern ground 

 there were no such fish to throw away. The difference in the maturity 

 of the plaice has been fully stated in a previous part of this paper. The 

 relative abundance of the plaice it is not possible to estimate, as the 

 fishing in one case was by a steamer, in the other by a sailing smack. 



Turhot and hrill. The smallest turbot on the Brown Ridges was 

 17^ in. long, the smallest brill 16^. Off the German coast, in June, 

 numbers of brill and turbot, 11 to 14 in. long, were taken, and one 

 turbot taken was only 8| in. Sometimes 29 per cent, of the number 

 taken were under 12 in., and, of course, quite immature. 



Soles. The smallest sole caught off the German coast was 9| in. long, 

 on the Brown Ridges 8 J in. In both cases a large proportion of the 

 soles were adult, and of fair size. 



Lemon Soles absent on both grounds. 



Dabs. In both cases numbers of dabs, both small and large, were 

 captured, and the larger, about 10 to 13 in., were kept for market. 



Haddock. Absent on the Brown Ridges, few small on the northern 

 ground, but some larger. These were less abundant than the plaice, and 

 decreased towards the land and the shallower water. 



Cod. Absent on the Brown Ridges, scarce on the German coast. 



Whiting. Numbers about 13 in. long on both grounds, but only saved 

 from the last hauls of the voyage. 



Latchets. A considerable number taken on both grounds, and mostly 

 mature and of large size. 



Gurnards. Grey abundant on both grounds, red (cuculus) in smaller 

 numbers. 



Weevers (Trachinus draco and viijera). The abundance of these, 

 especially of the larger species, is very characteristic of the Brown 

 Ridges. I saw none on the German coast. 



Sand-eels. I frequently found one or two of these entangled in the 

 net on the German coast. 



Some solenettes occurred on both grounds, but dragonets {Callionymus 



