176 NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 
have made their appearance off Whitby in the same month, though 
the success of different boats in their pursuit showed considerable 
variety. 
Il. On roe Tererirortat Frsaina Grounds OF SCARBOROUGH AND ITS 
NEIGHBOURHOOD. 
In July, 1893, at the invitation of Professor M‘Intosh, I took part in 
some trawling operations which were being carried on by the steam- 
ship ‘‘ Garland” in the neighbourhood of Scarborough, with the object 
of obtaining soles to stock the Scotch Fishery Board’s hatchery at 
Dunbar, &e. I was thereby afforded an excellent opportunity of 
making myself acquainted with the condition of the inshore fishing 
grounds, which, two years previously, had been closed to trawling 
by an enactment of the North-Hastern Sea Fisheries Committee. 
It was claimed by those who had chiefly interested themselves in 
procuring the bye-law that a considerable improvement had already 
manifested itself in the local line-fishery, but on that point, from 
want of any personal acquaintance with the pre-existing condi- 
tions, I can offer no independent opinion. I was invited, however, 
by Mr. J. Woodall, vice-chairman of the committee, to put forward 
any conclusions which my observation of the present condition of 
the grounds might suggest as to the desirability of the retention or 
abolition of the bye-law. 
I propose in this note to give a very brief acount of the inves- 
tigation, and of the conclusions derived therefrom, and I take this 
opportunity of thanking Mr. Woodall, not only for hospitality extended 
to myself during my stay at Scarborough, but for a great deal of 
valuable information as to the fisheries of Scarborough and the sur- 
rounding district. 
The grounds examined extend along the coast for a distance of a 
hittle over ten miles, as the crow flies, from Hayburn Wyke to Filey 
Brigg. Scarborough lies about midway between these two points, 
forming the apex of a very gentle general incurvation of the York- 
shire coast-line in this district. The land descends everywhere in 
rather abrupt cliffs to the beach, which is rocky in general character, 
though here and there are patches of smooth sand at the water’s 
edge. Beyond low water mark a considerable stretch of land rock 
separates the area suitable for trawling from the margin, except at 
Cloughton, where a very narrow strip of sand extends almost to the 
head of the Wyke, or small bay which bears that name. Beyond 
the land rock, the existence of various isolated rough patches makes 
the trawling ground rather intricate, but we were fortunate in 
obtaining the services of an efficient pilot, and suffered little or no 
