TEAWLING IN BAYS ON THE SOUTH COAST OF DEVON. 319 



a larger size than the offspring of fish which have only just reached 

 the mature condition. Large plaice are spawning, if I am correctly 

 informed, in January. Means might be taken to tabulate the spawning 

 period with greater exactitude, and I believe that the Committee might 

 profitably consider to what extent the opening of Start Bay during this 

 month (or during the earlier part of the spawning period) would have 

 the effect of diverting the attention of trawlers from the large plaice 

 when the latter are spawning. In this connection the weather is of 

 great importance, since a gale of wind off the land is in itself a most 

 efficient protector of spawning fish on distant grounds, while the 

 opening of the bay would, under such meteorological conditions, submit 

 the species to a persecution which they at present escape. In any 

 modification of existing arrangements intended to protect large fish 

 while spawning it would be essential to avoid any risk, by too early 

 opening of inshore grounds, of molesting the breeders before they have 

 hauled off the land, and I am certain that the date of the outward 

 migration varies somewhat in different years. 



A Fisheries Committee appears to have the power of dealing with 

 trawling in inshore waters by various methods besides those already 

 referred to, viz., by regulation of the hour and duration of hauls, and 

 of the size of mesh, and by the prohibiting of the removal of fish from 

 a fishery. It is a well-established fact that small fish, especially the 

 hardier kinds of flat-fish, are not necessarily killed by being caught 

 in the trawl, if the latter is only hauled for a short time and the 

 ground is fairly clean. It is, of course, essential that the small fish, 

 if they are to be saved, should be promptly returned to the sea. With 

 regard to mesh, I doubt whether any alteration of size and pattern 

 is practicable, since to restrict trawling in the bays to the use of 

 a certain kind of net might be equivalent to closing them altogether, 

 on account of the expense entailed by equipping the boats with two 

 sets of gear. There can be no doubt as to the beneficial action of 

 regulations dealing with duration of hauls and removal of small 

 fish, if such can be effectually enforced ; but I suppose that a man 

 of affairs, before recommending any legislation on these lines, would 

 consider how far the means at his disposal would be likely to render it 

 effective. 



In the above remarks I have directed my attention almost entirely 

 to plaice, and only a few words appear to be necessary in respect of the 

 other fish met with in the bays. Soles require no further notice. 

 Merry soles and fluundeis appear to be unimportant. Turbot and brill 

 are few and small, and, as such, may very well continue to enjoy the 

 protection ol' the bye-law ; nor can i find any reasun tu ihiuk that the 

 closure of the bays is otherwise than beneficial to whiting and gurnards, 



