326 INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CONTENTS OF 



It follows that tlie practical question of whether these inshore waters 

 which I have investigated should be closed or not, must depend on whether 

 restrictive measures are necessary for the protection of the plaice. 



In bringing this part of the memorandum to a conclusion, I can but express 

 my regret that I have been unable to properly investigate the catches of the 

 deep-sea trawlers in the areas adjacent to the two bays, Avith a view to making 

 an exact comparison of the percentage of immature plaice among the plaice 

 of the offshore waters Avith the percentage of imuiaturo plaice among those 

 which are captured in the bays. 



I have purposely omitted to deal with the relative merits of the pleas 

 offered on behalf of the Start Bay longshoremen on the one hand and the 

 trawlers on the other — partly because the case for the former admittedly rests, 

 in part at least, on grounds which it does not come within my province to 

 consider. I shall be willing to explain myself further on this point, in giving 

 evidence before the Committee, should they desire it. 



II. An examination of the figures given above will show that fishing in the 

 two bays considered involves a considerable destruction of immature plaice 

 and dabs. It will be seen also that the destruction of fish of all other species 

 is insignificant. It now remains to consider the bearing of these facts on the 

 practical question before the Committee. 



The destruction of immature flat-fish has been held to be injurious to the 

 fisheries for two different reasons by those who regard the question from two 

 distinct points of view. The reason most commonly given for objecting to 

 this destruction is that, by destroying an immature fish, yon eliminate not 

 the fish only, but its possible offspring. It is maintained on the other hand 

 (and this view is held by some biologists) that the supply of larvee is more 

 than sufficient to maintain an adequate stock of large fish, and that the 

 destruction of a certain number of immature fish is not to be deprecated on 

 the ground that the number of eggs and larvae produced at the next spawning 

 season will be proportionately diminished. Those, however, who hold this 

 view are no less anxious to put a stop to this destruction for quite a different 

 reason. 



It has been pointed out that a plaice 14 in. in length weighs twice as much 

 as a plaice of 10 in., and that it would be more profitable to the fisheries 

 if a 10 in. plaice was allowed to grow to 14 in. before being caught, doubling 

 its weight in the process, than if it were destroyed at 10 in. And this state- 

 ment certainly holds good, unless the mortality of plaice from natural causes 

 is such as to reduce the number of 10 in. plaice by a half in the time they 

 would take to grow to 14 in. And that this is the case is extremely im- 

 probable. 



It will be seen, then, that the destruction of immature fish is objected to 

 by some because these fish have not yet had a chance of reproducing their 

 species, and by others because they have not yet grown to the size at which 

 it would be most profitable to capture them ; and it will be noticed that 

 these two grounds of objection are not in themselves inconsistent with one 

 another. 



