REPORT ON THE PROBABLE AGES OF YOUNG FISH. 345 



valuable fish from these nets in April were so young, all being in 

 their second year at least. In May the same kinds of fish were 

 obtained, but the plaice were not so numerous ; in addition to those 

 mentioned, two whiting occurred, about eleven months old, 4 and 

 5^ inches long. In June also plaice of the year occurred in large 

 numbers, over 200 on the 3rd in the cart-trawl. A few soles, 

 flounders, plaice, turbot, brill, one year old, continued to be taken. 

 In July the year's plaice are in much smaller numbers, 25 on one 

 occasion, 13 on another. Soles and brill 3 to 7 inches long still 

 occurred. On September 10th plaice of the year were still present, 

 but in small numbers, only 40 under 3 inches being taken ; on 

 this date one whiting 3| inches long, and hatched the preceding 

 spring, was taken. 



If we turn next to the fish taken by the fish- and shrimp-trawls 

 in the Humber at a depth of 1 to 2 fathoms, we find in March 

 plaice 5 to 9 inches long the most numerous; the majority of 

 these are one year old, some may be two years ; there are also 

 a few year-old dabs, I5 to 8^ inches ; a year-old sole, 5| inches, 

 and five specimens of year-old whiting, 4| to 6 inches. In May 

 a considerable number of soles 7 to 10 inches long were taken, 

 some of these are only one year old, but many of the larger are 

 probably two years. There are also a large number of flounders 

 5 to 10 inches, and some larger, and plaice of the same sizes. 

 Most of the flounders are two years old and upwards, and many of 

 them adult and mature. The greater number of the plaice are 7 

 to 8 inches long, and these are probably only one year old. In 

 June a large number of soles occur, of various sizes, from 7 to 12 

 inches ; the smaller of these may be only one year old, the majority 

 are two years, and some are probably adult. In July there occur 

 only a few soles on one occasion, 5 to 7 inches long, one year old. 

 In August there are no observations. September is remarkable for 

 the appearance of large numbers of whiting 2^ to 5 inches long, and 

 evidently derived from eggs shed in the preceding spring ; 254 were 

 taken on the 9th ; cod of similar size occur, but in much smaller 

 numbers. On the 9th half a dozen of the year's plaice were also 

 taken. 



These observations give a distinct and accurate idea of the de- 

 struction of young fish by shrimp fishing at the mouth of the 

 Humber. The young fry of the year are largely taken in the case 

 of two species only, the plaice and the whiting, the former at the 

 very edge of the water by the shove-net and cart-trawl, the 

 latter by the shrimp-trawl. These results, of course, only hold good 

 for the months mentioned, the observations not extending beyond 

 September. A considerable number of year-old, and therefore im- 



