REMARKS ON TRAWLING. Syl. 
of lines being often used. | The success with which the local fisher- 
men ply their trade in early spring amongst the plaice is indicated 
by the fact that a single haul of the lines of a small fishing-boat 
last February produced a sum of £9, and that a larger “ catch ”’ 
was procured by the same boat within the week. The closure of 
the inshore waters, therefore, while it places the trawl-fishermen at 
a disadvantage, benefits the line-fishermen, and does not deprive 
the public altogether of the supply of flat-fishes from the enclosed 
area. It does not, however, produce many large flat-fishes, for as 
these get older they appear to seek the deeper waters outside the 
limit, either from a natural habit, or as the result of constant inter- 
ference by man. ‘This habit, indeed, was noticed in the Report 
when dealing with the question of instituting the closure within the 
three-mile limit—thus :—“ The flat-fishes, such as turbot, brill, plaice, 
soles, dabs, and thornback (skate) would certaimly be left in com- 
parative security in certain bays, as at St. Andrew’s, the larger only, 
perhaps, seeking the grounds in the offing.” These larger flat- 
fishes, many of which are mature (that is, spawning) are captured 
outside the three-mile limit in great numbers, and thus the supply 
of ova and young fishes for the inshore waters is affected, for, as 
previously pointed out, the latter waters depend to a large extent 
on the former in this respect. Few or no spawning plaice (none 
within our experience) are ever captured within the bay, though 
eggs and young in various stages are not uncommon. It is stated, 
however, that adult ripe plaice were formerly procured by hook and 
line off the rocky shore towards the mouth of the bay between Boar- 
hills and Fife-Ness, on hard ground on which no trawl could work. 
The adult spawning plaice in greater numbers occur in the offshore 
waters, and, so far as known, there is no passage of these from the 
outer to the inner area for the purpose of discharging their eggs— 
as was formerly believed in regard to many fishes. If it had been 
for the advantage of the eggs and larval plaice that the adults 
should only spawn close inshore in the shallow water, there is no 
reason to doubt that such would have been the arrangement. It is 
apparent, however, that it is otherwise. Before reaching the 
shallow water of the bays the scattered ova have advanced towards 
hatching or have hatched, the majority probably in the latter 
condition, the open water being perhaps better suited for their 
safety. The yolk-sac of the larval fish is soon absorbed, the 
symmetrical post-larval condition is reached, by-and-by transforma- 
tion occurs, and the little fish takes to the bottom, swarms being 
found in the muddy rock-pools towards the end of April and 
beginning of May. The life-history of this species would seem to 
show that—in dealing artificially with the eggs and larve—the 
NEW SERIES.— VOL. III, NO. IV, 25 
