288 PLANKTON STUDIES IN RELATION TO 



summarize the result of systematic inquiry made amongst the fisher- 

 men in regard to their views upon the subject, and to detail the 

 different characteristics of the various types of water as described by 

 the fishermen themselves. 



" Stinking Water " is of a dull leaden colour even in bright sunlight, 

 so dense that a man looking over the side of a sailing drifter cannot 

 see down to the keel. It possesses, according to the fishermen, a 

 distinctly noxious smell, which has been described as similar to that 

 of decaying seaweed. The men are agreed that mackerel are not to- 

 be found in such water; but one informant stated that scad or horse 

 mackerel are often present in fair-sized shoals. 



" G-reij Water " is somewhat similar to the foregoing, but does not 

 possess an unpleasant smell. Mackerel are never numerous in such 

 water. 



" Bhie " and " Green Water " are both suitable for good shoals of fish. 

 They differ, according to the fishermen, merely as regards colour. 

 Both are so clear that the keel of the vessel can be seen distinctly. 

 Both varieties are the usual types of water found in the western area 

 in the early part of the season, right up to the first or second week in 

 May. The fishermen are agreed in considering either type sufficiently 

 promising to allow of fishing with some prospect of a fair catch. 



" Yello7v Water " is considered to be the best of any. This, according 

 to the statement of many fishermen, exhibits the following character- 

 istics. It seldom appears before the beginning of April, and more 

 often not until the last week of that month. It is of a distinctly 

 yellow tint, and rather dense when viewed either in sunlight or under 

 a dull sky ; often it appears in patches of greater or less extent. In 

 certain years the sea west of Scilly has been almost entirely of this 

 type of water. It appears, according to certain statements, to be 

 teeming with " minute animal life." The fishermen agree in stating 

 that the largest catches are always made in such water, and that it is 

 not usual for an unproductive shot to be made, although, by the state- 

 ment of several fishermen interrogated upon the point, it would appear 

 that light catches are occasionally made in the best type of yellow 

 water. Certain fishermen consider that the colour of the water is not 

 due to the excreta of mackerel, but to the general colour of the 

 " swarms of water fleas," whilst others on account of its density contend 

 that it is coloured by excrement of mackerel. 



Other "signs." — Apart from the characteristic of smell invariably 

 associated with so-called ' stinking water," the generality of fishermen 

 are agreed that a shoal of drift fish may be detected by their smell. 

 This is more strongly pronounced in the case of pilchards, but, with 



