REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 107 



for these fish June must be a period of intense spawning. In the 

 report on the cruise charts are given showing the distribution of these 

 eggs in the region investigated. Useful results were also obtained 

 from the qualitative hauls — those with the Petersen young-fish trawl 

 and Todd's trawl. The great catches of eggs made with these nets 

 have rendered it possible to obtain clearer views as to the morpho- 

 logical differences between various species which have hitherto been 

 much confused. This has been the case, for instance, with the eggs of 

 Turbot and G-reater Weever, Mackerel and Grey Gurnard and Brill. In 

 the report photographs are given showing characteristic differences in 

 these species, and also a mathematical method for distinguishing them, 

 founded on the measurement of groups of eggs and the contained 

 oil-globules. The report contains also a Table of all the catches made 

 with the Hensen net, a discussion of the observations made on the 

 spawning of the sole in the Wash in 1904, and in an appendix, some 

 notes on the Constant of the Hensen net. The distribution of fish 

 larvae has not been treated, but valuable results should accrue, 

 particularly in the case of the sole-larvte, from the examination of the 

 great numbers taken with the Petersen trawl. These far exceed any 

 catches hitherto made, and almost every stage of development is 

 represented. 



C. FISHEKMEN'S EECOEDS. 



A report on the results obtained from the records of certain Grimsby 

 trawlers has been completed and is now in the press. It contains a 

 detailed analysis of 13,246 hauls made by the skippers of these 

 trawlers, during the period 1904 to 1907, in the central and southern 

 parts of the North Sea, which hauls have been allotted, according to 

 their position, to twenty-three different areas. 



The catches of seven species of food fishes are examined, viz. of 

 plaice, soles, turbot, brill, cod, haddock, and whiting, and as far as 

 possible the seasonal and yearly fluctuations of each of these species 

 have been determined for each area. These are measured by monthly 

 averages and illustrated by a series of curves. The importance of each 

 size group (large and small) to the total is considered, and the com- 

 parative distribution of each species of fish over the region has been 

 estimated and depicted by charts. The spawning periods and regions 

 are also investigated as far as the records allow. 



The final results bring out a striking contrast in the seasonal and 

 geographical distribution of the round and the flat fishes. Plaice, 

 soles, turbot, and brill are all found in their greatest numbers on the 

 eastern grounds and in the areas adjacent to them. In these areas 



