160 DESTEUCTION OF IMMATURE FISH. 



poUachius) caught by the seine in tlie Cattewater. The plaice were 

 about four and three quarter inches^ the herring j&ve and one eighth 

 inches^ long. They were about one year old, except the herring, 

 which were probably hatched in the January previous, and all were 

 taken away, none returned to the water. In the following week the 

 fisherman of the Marine Biological Association was fishing with a 

 seine in the same place, and, as before, a numerically large propor- 

 tion of undersized plaice were captured, but were returned to the 

 water. It is beyond question that large numbers of undersized fish 

 are destroyed by seines every year in the Cattewater, and from informa- 

 tion received it appears that this is the case in many other localities. 

 But it would be necessary to make continuous and careful observa- 

 tions before it could be asserted that such fishing is injurious and 

 ought to be prohibited. 



It appears from what has been said above that the Marine Biolo- 

 gical Association is not acquainted with any " nursery " of young 

 soles. It is stated that such nurseries do exist on various parts of 

 the English and French coasts. Investigation should be made, and 

 if such nurseries can be proved to exist on the English coast it would 

 doubtless be proper to prohibit fishing there, since soles require pro- 

 tection more than any other fish. It is strongly suspected that quan- 

 tities of young soles are destroyed every year in certain creeks in 

 the estuary of the Thames. Faversham Creek is an example, but 

 scientific evidence is required before any steps are taken, as these 

 " young soles " may prove to be thickbacks {Solea variegata) or 

 other species. 



Young turbots and brill {Rhombus maximus and R. Isevis), three 

 quarters to an inch in length, are found floating at the surface of 

 the sea. Mr. Cunningham has examined several such in the early 

 part of June, and Mr. Dunn, of Mevagissey, finds them floating at the 

 surface every year. Mr. Cunningham considers that these fish are 

 little more than a month old, and that their pelagic habit is due to 

 the fact that they possess a large air bladder. It is unnecessary to 

 say that their habit at this age protects them from trawling in any 

 form. 



A consideration of this report will lead to the inference that the 

 destruction of immature fish has been greatly exaggerated by persons 

 interested in some particular branch of fishing. Destruction doubt- 

 less does occur, but in the case of very small fry it is an open ques- 

 tion whether it is injurious. The destruction of plaice must be deter- 

 mined before it can be asserted that it is injurious, and the destruction 

 of very small soles is not proven. But it is evident that in spite of 

 the work already done an immense quantity of accurate information 

 is still needed, and this the Marine Biological Association hopes, in 



