17 



The table shows the actual numbers captured and the sizes 

 of the fish, but the character of the different stations visited will 

 be better displayed by the following summaries : — 



TABLE II. 



TOTAL CATCHES OF EACH SPECIES PER HOUR'S TRAWLINU 



Skate Roads. AInmouth Bay Druridge Bay. Blyth Bay. 



1212341234123 



Besides the individual peculiarities it will be observed that 

 there is a great contrast between the northern bay, Skate Roads, 

 and the southern bays, AInmouth to Blyth Bay. The plaice- 

 dab relationship for each of the bays from north to south is Skate 

 Roads, 218:15 ; AInmouth Bay, 30:108 ; Druridge Bay, 30:70 ; 

 Blyth Bay, 26:32. These numbers and the general catches are 

 very like those obtained as the result of the pre-war experiments. 

 The distribution, in other words, tends to be a constant one each 

 season. 



The fish at the period of the experiments are all immature, 

 whatever their size ; they include young fish which have not yet 

 reached maturity and spent fish which have migrated into inshore 

 waters after spawning. 



Reverting again to Table I. it will be observed that at Skate 

 Roads on both occasions large numbers of very small plaice were 

 caught, measuring from about 11 to about 19 cm., and culmina- 

 ting in a size of 12 to 13 cm. Fortunately in the case of the latter 

 of the two hauls at that station, attracted by the small size of the 

 fish, all the small up to 19 cm. were retained contrary to our usual 

 habit of returning such to the sea, and they were submitted 

 by Mr. Storrow to a careful analysis with respect to age, both 

 otoliths and scales being used for the purpose. The result was : — 

 Group I., range 10-7 to 13*8 cm., the moan size being 11 cm. or 



