CERTAIN BAYS ON THE SOUTH COAST OF DEVON. 



325 



this length are mature. Acquiescing in this objection, we may accept 12 in. 

 as a reasonably effective limit, and may now consider what proportion of the 

 plaice in the bays examined fall below this limit of maturity. An inspection 

 of Table II. will show that while 43"1 per cent, of the plaice in Start Bay 

 were 12 in. or under, the percentage of plaice in Teignmouth Bay 12 in. 

 or less in length was no less than 87*6. Or, in round numbers, two-fifths 

 of the fish captured in Start Bay, and more than four-fifths of those captured 

 in Teignmouth, were under the length which I have agreed to call a reasonably 

 effective limit of maturity. 



We may now turn to consider the facts ascertained for dabs. These may 

 be best understood from an examination of the table given below : — 



Table III. 



Showing the relative numhers of dabs at the different sizes in all the 

 hauls taken (October and December ). 



The limit of maturity for the common dab has been placed at 7 in. by 

 one observer, and at 6 in. by another. It has not yet, so far as I am aware, 

 been definitely ascertained for the South-west Coast ; and it is known that 

 in the case of the plaice, at least, the limit of maturity varies with the 

 locality. I should hesitate, therefore, to deduce from the figures above 

 what proportion of the dabs captured were "immature," nor is there the 

 same necessity for doing so as in the other case. For if a case is to be 

 made out for prohibiting fishing in the inshore, while permitting it in the 

 offshore waters, it cannot be made to rest on facts connected with the 

 distribution of the common dab. Investigations made in the North Sea 

 have seemed to indicate that the dab " is found everywhere, and at all 

 stages, in every part of the North Sea, both inshore and offshore, and that, 

 except in estuaries, it seems to spawn anywhere, without regard to depth 

 of water or proximity to land." It is far otherwise with the plaice; in 

 the case of which fish it may be said with certainty that they remain for 

 the most part in inshore waters during the period of their immaturity, under- 

 going a migration seawards when they are ready to spawn. 



