384 NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 



Considerable numbers of small round fish^ cbiefly haddock, 

 skates, and rays, are taken on various North Sea grounds, but I do 

 not propose to discuss this matter at present. 



Long-lining. — Besides the larger skates, the only species which in 

 its immature condition is a considerable sufferer from this method 

 of fishing appears to be the halibut. I believe that not less than 

 half the halibut which are brought ashore here fail to reach even 

 the provisional standard of maturity which I have proposed else- 

 where, but I have not determined the proportions with exactness. 

 The smallest fish which I have seen landed by liners measured 

 15 inches, a size which, proportionally to that of the species, is less 

 than that of the smallest plaice landed by trawlers from the eastern 

 grounds. The matter can be better dealt with when more exact 

 knowledge of the relation of size to maturity has been arrived at. 



I understand that young coal-fish, in the " sillock " stage, are 

 caught by liners in the Orkney and Shetland harbours for use as 

 bait, but as the species is not of great value the proceeding seems 

 perfectly justifiable. 



Shrimp-trawling. — This industry is carried on by one boat of 22 

 tons, five from 15 to 18 tons, and nine from 8 to 11 tons, these last 

 being known as '' prawners.^^ All carry similar gear, viz. a trawl 

 of shrimp-mesh not exceeding 20 feet in beam. The larger boats 

 were formerly in the habit of also carrying small fish-trawls or 

 '^ sole-nets,^' but a bye-law of the Eastern Counties Fishery Com- 

 mittee now prohibits the use of fish-trawls in the Humber, and 

 only permits the use of shrimp-trawls from the beginning of April to 

 the end of September. No machinery exists to enforce this law, 

 and I understand that, so far as the use of fish-trawls is concerned, 

 it is generally evaded. However, as the fish brought to market by 

 these boats purport to have been caught only in shrimp-trawls, they 

 may be dealt with under this head. They consist of common soles, 

 plaice, and flounders, with a few common dabs. Turbot, brill, and 

 lemon sole are only rarely met with. 



Soles are never brought to market in very large numbers, fifty or 

 sixty pairs being considered a very fine haul for one boat in a night, 

 but up to the latter part of June almost all the fish are under 12 

 inches, and sexually immature, whether males or females, so far as 

 I can judge from the examination of a considerable number. 

 Towards the end of June larger spent fish appear to find their way 

 into the Humber from the off-shore grounds. Thus in the early 

 part of June, of 126 fish 112 were under-sized, but on the last day 

 of that month 242 fish, representing the catches of two boats, in- 

 cluded 40 above 12 inches, some of them very fine fish. The 

 smallest soles brought to market are from 6 to 7 inches long, any 



