TRAWLING IN BAYS ON THE SOUTH COAST OF DEVON. 297 



practical importance, such as the examination of the reproductive organs 

 and food of fish taken, of the pelagic ova present in the water, and of the 

 nature of the general fauna inhabiting the grounds, were only carried out 

 with the greatest difliculty on account of the lack of accommodation and 

 apparatus. The Laboratory steam-launch is well equipped, but she is 

 only a 57 ft. boat, and cannot venture round the Start except in fine 

 weather. Once on the ground, a change of wind is very apt to imprison 

 her in Dartmouth or some other harbour. I trust that the above 

 considerations may be held to explain the delay in furnishing the 

 present Report, and its incomplete condition. 



In considering the records before me, I do not see that it is possible 

 to proceed except upon the assumption that the various hauls made at 

 the same season, though in some cases in different years, were made 

 under practically identical conditions. I do not suppose that this is really 

 the case, since absolute seasonal regularity is not a characteristic of any 

 fishery with which I am acquainted ; but I do not see any possibility 

 of tabulating the possible effects of weather with anything like accuracy, 

 whether from the particulars furnished in the records or from the 

 publications of the Meteorological Office. In so far as the work of the 

 Busy Bee is concerned, it is fair to assume that the weather was 

 reasonably fine before and during her operations, as otherwise they 

 would have been prevented ; but this takes no account of the general 

 weather of the season, nor can I claim to possess the local knowledge 

 indispensable to a just appreciation of the probable effect on the fishery. 



On the whole, while I should be very loath to deduce from our 

 records any positive opinion as to the abundance of fish at particular 

 seasons, I believe that they furnish a fairly exact idea of the proportions 

 of large and small fish likely to be met with ; and, as I apprehend, 

 it is chiefly with the question of possible destruction of undersized 

 fish that the Committee is concerned. 



It is proposed, whenever sufficient material shall be available, to 

 discuss the general question of the distribution of fish and their 

 migrations in the whole south-western district. It is a question which 

 cannot fail to have an important bearing on practical fishery matters, 

 but I do not think it can be conveniently dealt with in isolated parts. 

 I shall therefore omit from consideration in this memorandum all 

 details of life, history, food, migration, &c., and confine myself to a 

 brief recapitulation of such facts as appear to be of immediate im- 

 portance. 



All food-fishes taken were measured by Mr. Stead to the nearest 

 quarter of an incli, with the exception of skates and rays. The latter 

 were considered by Mr. Scott and myself to be of economic importance, 

 and are therefore included in our records, together with all fish whatso- 



