388 EXAMINATION OF THE PRESENT STATE 
part dries at low tide ; the embouchures of numerous streams, large 
and small, give on to these areas. 
At the present day our trawlers cannot afford altogether to despise 
the territorial rights of the various powers which own this stretch of 
coast, and the fishing grounds affected by Grimsby vessels are 
accordingly at a respectful distance outside the chain of islands. 
The westernmost is off Terschelling hght, in about 12 or 15 fathoms, 
but in an easterly direction boats approach the shore more nearly, 
fishing along the islands of “ Skimliko ”’ (Schiermonnikoog), Borkum, 
Norderney, &c. Everywhere the ground is smooth, except for a 
“rough ” on Borkum Flat. Trawling is also carried on about the 
“ Tsland ” (Heligoland), and northwards from the island last men- 
tioned to the Horn Reef, this ground being collectively termed 
“above the Reef,” while special parts of it are spoken of according 
to the name of the nearest island. ‘ Below the Reef” the grounds 
extend as far north as the Holmen hght. A line of rough, boulder- 
covered ground, supposed to be the moraine of some glacier, follows 
the general course of the Danish coast approximately in the manner 
indicated on the chart, and the trawling grounds are anywhere 
between this and the coast, but, for small fish, as close in as the 
boats can venture. .I do not know that it is necessary to describe 
the grounds in greater detail here, as this does not profess to be a 
fisherman’s itinerary of the North Sea; nor, be it remarked, do I re- 
commend the use of the chart for the more exact purposes of 
navigation. It will serve, however, as I hope, to illustrate the 
remarks which I have to make on the destruction of fish on various 
grounds ; but, before proceeding directly to this subject, it may be 
as well to review what is known of the lhfe-history of some of the 
fishes on which the trawling industry depends. Some comprehen- 
sion of this is absolutely essential for a due appreciation of any 
fishery question, and especially of one into which the destruction of 
young fish enters largely. 
Cuap. II1J.—Tse Lire-History or Norra Sra Foop FIsuHes. 
While we remain in ignorance of far too many facts in the life- 
history of even some of the commonest food fishes, we have been 
able to form at least a tolerably clear idea of the breeding habits of 
many of them, of their appearance in the infantile condition, and of 
their haunts at different periods of existence ; and in the considera- 
tion of questions affecting the over-destruction of young fish these 
facts have to be constantly borne in mind. 
There appears to exist, in many persons who express opinions on 
