X8 



under — 13 fish ; Group II., range 10-8 to 19-2 cm. (50 per cent., 

 12*3 to 14-1 cm.), mean about 13 cm. = 116 fish; Group III., 

 one fish measuring 13" 9 cm., which indicated the three winters 

 on both scales and otoliths. Two only were rejected as doubtful. 



It will be observed that at both experiments there was a very 

 small number of fish with three and perhaps four winter "rings" 

 of the size 18-20 cm. There was some indication of their presence 

 at Druridge Bay on the 2nd September, but with this exception 

 all the bays showed a similar absence of the group, and indeed of 

 small plaice generally. The small plaice were encountered also 

 at Druridge Bay on August 12th, and there also indicated a mean 

 size of 13 cm. It will be found when we proceed to compare 

 the results with those of pre-war years that the size of the small 

 plaice is much below the mean size of the groups mainly repre- 

 sented, Group II., but this is emphasised by the absence of 

 Group III. 



Dabs were present in 1920 in greatest numbers at Alnmouth, 

 where they averaged 108 per haul, and ranged from 12 to 36 cm. 

 in length. As in the case of the plaice then, the inshore waters 

 in depths of about three fathoms or even two fathoms receive 

 each year all sizes from the youngest stages of the year of spawning 

 to spent fish. At Alnmouth Bay small dabs were encountered, 

 which probably had a mean size not very different from that of 

 the plaice, but the most conspicuous group measured on the 

 average about 18 cm., and the probability therefore is that these 

 were a year older than the plaice. If they were normal in size 

 they would be called Group III. fish. The dabs as in previous 

 years predominated in the southern bays, and were poorly 

 represented at the northern station. 



The other flat fish refer, as has been our usual experience in 

 the past, to large fish. It is to be noted that prime fish were this 

 year uncommon, and brill altogether absent. 



The distribution of the gurnard, and the species we catch 

 in the Northumberland area is the grey gurnard, Trigla gumardus, 

 and seldom any other species, is remarkably similar to that of the 

 dab, as will be seen from the summary table above. The angler, 

 Lojihius piscatorius, was obtained at most of the hauls, and it is 

 evident that during the course of the experiments it was in the 

 process of leaving the inshore waters. The anglers ranged in size 



