REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 647 



fishing boats be increased or not will depend on the results of 

 the present year's experience. The Association, however, cannot too 

 publicly acknowledge the spirit of friendliness and confidence with 

 which their proposals for co-operation have been received both by boat 

 owners and fishermen. 



Special books of forms are distributed to the fishermen, who record, 

 after every haul of the trawl, in addition to other details, the geo- 

 graphical position, and the total quantity of each kind of fish caught, 

 the more important species being divided into " large," " medium," and 

 " small." 



The fishermen's records do not of course enter into the details which 

 characterise the work of the scientific steamer ; but they supplement 

 these more exact observations by providing throughout the year a 

 series of synoptic data as to the general course of the fishing in 

 different parts of the area. 



The accuracy of the fishermen's records will be systematically con- 

 trolled by comparison with the catches of the s.s. Huxley, which has 

 been fitted with an otter trawl for work on the grounds visited by the 

 steam trawlers, and with a beam trawl for use on the grounds worked 

 by the Lowestoft and Eamsgate smacks, each trawl being of the same 

 kind and size as those used by the regular fishing boats. 



The services of specially chosen shrimp fishermen are also being 

 utilised in various districts in connection with the inshore fisheries. 



3. Experiments on migration by the marking and liberation of fishes 

 in large numbers over wide areas. 



These experiments are designed to throw light on the following 

 points : — 



{a) The extent and direction of the seasonal and other migrations of 

 food-fishes at different stages of their growth, and over the entire area, 

 particular attention being paid to the migrations of undersized flat-fish. 



(6) The percentage of fish on the trawling grounds actually caught 

 by the trawling fleets from one year to another. 



The results of these experiments will be compared with the fluctua- 

 tions of fish on the various grounds shown by the trawling records, in 

 order to determine the extent to which the seasonal and other migrations 

 of fish account for the variation in the supply of fish on different grounds. 



The experiments will also show the extent to which the so-called 

 " nurseries " of flat-fish serve as a source of supply for the whole of the 

 North Sea area, or for special parts of it. 



The general results will be compared with those to be obtained by a 

 biological study of the local varieties of plaice and soles. 



