NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 143 



undersized and immature fish of these kinds were not found on the 

 Brown Ridges or other grounds worked by Lowestoft trawlers, but 

 doubtless occur near the Dutch coast. There is no evidence that they 

 occur on any grounds at a considerable distance from the shore. The 

 reasonable and practicable limit for brill, in my opinion, is 13 in. ; 12 in., 

 as recommended by the Protection Association, would not afford enough 

 protection on the Eastern Grounds, and the 10 in. limit proposed by the 

 Parliamentary Committee would be of very little use. 



There can be no doubt that the limit for turbot ought to be higher 

 than that for brill, and the practicable limit, in my opinion, is 15 in. It 

 is certain that there are no mature females below that size, and that 

 limit would not cause any difficulty to the fishermen, except on the 

 Eastern Grounds, or other shallow inshore waters. I have already 

 shown the important contrast in the size of the plaice caught in the two 

 voyages to the Eastern Grounds, described in the previous number. 

 The same contrast presents itself in the size of the turbot and brill. 

 The smallest turbot seen, in the first voyage south of the Horn Pieef, 

 was an immature female 13 in. long; the others were seven mature 

 males 14 in. to 22 in., and six mature females 24 in. to 30 in. Of the 

 brill examined three were immature females, 12 in. to 15in. ; the others 

 were eight mature females, 13 in. to 21 in. In the second voyage, on 

 the other hand, when we fished nearer to the land, numbers of brill and 

 turbot under 12 in. were taken. 



