74 



two spawning grounds situated not very differently from those 

 of the species already referred to, but the products which grow 

 up from the recruits are so denatant in the case of the dab as to 

 produce a totally different concentration of the immature. We 

 understand therefore generally the distribution and the life of the 

 dab of the east coast of Scotland and of Northumberland. It 

 is necessary and important to obtain information with respect 

 to this species hi the southern North Sea. The sole amongst 

 the flat fish behaves apparently in similar manner to the dab, 

 but ' in our district of Northumberland it is near the northern 

 limit of its distribution on the east coast. 



Id. addition to the species described in this report many round 

 fish, some of which are referred to herein, are similarly carried 

 into territorial waters, and grow there during the years of 

 immaturity, remaining in or near the district. All these beginning 

 during their early pelagic life as plankton feeders gradually turn 

 more and more to the demersal life of the district, and attention 

 has been drawn to the great population supported within the 

 district. It has also been seen that untoward circumstances, 

 such as the liberation of oil over the surface waters of the area, 

 may have a profound influence on the amount of food available, 

 even on the pelagic stages of the fish. The effect, however, 

 fortunately is local and transient. In addition, also, the annual 

 migrations of immature and spent fish from the south bring 

 species like the mackerel into the Northumberland region. 



It has not been deemed necessary to draw particular atten- 

 tion to species other than those which are illustrated in the results 

 of the trawling experiments. It will be observed that the purpose 

 of the experiments was to obtain a knowledge of the origin, disr 

 tribution, food, growth and migrations of the species concerned. 

 This summary of the results of the experiments which have been 

 conducted since 1892, and with which I have been indentified 

 since 1896, deals therefore with a section only of the work done 

 in connexion with the Cullercoats Laboratory, and it may be 

 remarked that the experiments have been made at little cost to 

 the community. It may be asked whether the knowledge derived 

 is worth having from the point of view of administration and of 

 the fishermen. There are people identified with both aspects 

 of the question who think that it is unnecessary to have such 



