96 NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 
find that they specially affected any particular part of the ground. 
Plaice and dabs, on the contrary, appeared to be much more abundant 
on the lower half. Of the former, 35 was the largest number taken in 
a haul on the whole ground ; on the upper half 5, and on the lower 
half 27 were taken in two consecutive hauls. The same hauls 
yielded 6 and 38 dabs respectively, whilst 80 were taken in one haul 
over the whole ground. The sizes of the plaice were from 11} to 103 
inches, most being less than 6 inches, whilst the dabs measured 
from 1 to 84 inches, the great majority being less than 7 inches. 
Small cod and whiting were as plentiful as on other grounds, but 
the bulk of them appeared to be derived from the lower half. Two 
whiting-pout, 8 inches in length, were taken on this ground. 
Unmarketable fish, including Cottus, Agonus, Liparis, Centronotus, 
and Gobius, occurred in variable numbers, but it was not noted that 
they were more plentiful on one part of the ground than another. 
A good many sun-stars, hermits, shore and swimmer crabs were 
taken. Sabellaria was very abundant towards the upper end of the 
ground. Hydroids were represented by Thwaria thwia, Antennu- 
laria ramosa, Haleciwm sp., &e. 
“ Tetney’ ground.—During the period of our investigations this 
ground was very effectively closed to trawling by the prevalence of 
whelkers’ gear, the buoys on which are so arranged as to watch only 
at certain states of tide. Consequently we were unable to use the 
professional shrimp-trawl there. Harly in October, however, Mr. 
Woodall having kindly lent his yacht for some work im connection 
with this Society’s mesh investigations, several hauls were made on 
the prawn ground with the naturalist’s trawl used to check the 
results obtained with the fish-trawls. 
The take of prawns varied, but was never very large ; but of course 
it is not possible to judge from such a net the results hkely to be 
yielded by one specially designed for the capture of this species. 
Small soles were rather abundant, as many as eleven being taken 
in one haul, though usually the number was less. A few large fish 
were also present on the ground, but were caught only in the fish- 
trawl. Very few Jemon soles were taken, this form apparently pre- 
ferring the deeper part of the river, or it may be that the immigra- 
tion was only just commencing. There were a great many small 
dabs, over 300 being taken in an hour’s haul on one occasion. 
Twenty-eight small plaice were caught at the same time, but once, 
when we went rather too close inshore to catch many prawns, we 
took over 200 small plaice. Generally there were a few small flounders, 
and once we got a “chicken” turbot, 13 inches in length. Small 
whiting were as numerous as on the other grounds later in the season, 
but cod were comparatively scarce, as, indeed, at the end of 
