NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 385 



smaller ones caught being promptly returned. During the succeed- 

 ing months the proportion of large fish rather increases, but the 

 smaller ones always largely predominate. 



Plaice and flounders are sold together. The former^ which never 

 reach any great size during the time they remain in the Humber, are 

 considered by the Cleethorpers, who used to monopolise the Humber 

 fisheries, to be a distinct species, which they call flat-fish or fluke. 

 They consider that the gelatinous egg-capsules of certain Polychgetes 

 ai'e the spawn of these fish. As in the case of the sole, very small 

 plaice or flounders are returned by the shrimp-trawlers to the sea. 

 Those brought ashore measure from about 6 inches up to about 11 

 inches. I found a box of Humber flat-fish to contain 425 plaice, 

 from 6 to 11 inches, averaging in length 7" 71 inches, and in weight 

 •18 lb., and 34 flounders from 5 to 13 inches. The total amount 

 sold in the market from the beginning of the season to the end of 

 July appears to be something under 300 boxes, and thus not more 

 than a steam trawler will sometimes bring in from the Dutch coast 

 in a single trip. 



Numbers of small whiting and cod are sometimes caught, espe- 

 cially the former. I have received 254 whiting, from 2f to 4-f^ inches, 

 and 16 cod, 2f to S^ inches, from one boat, but they are not usually 

 brought ashore, though the whiting, even if immediately returned, 

 would probably not survive. 



Shore Fisheries : Stake-netting. — There are only two stake-net 

 stations below Grimsby, viz. one at Cleethorpes and one at Humber- 

 stone. Both nets ai*e owned by the same man, a resident of 

 Cleethorpes, and, as I understand, have not been very productive 

 during the present year. 



The mesh is 1 inch from knot to knot, or ^ inch square, and the 

 nets are intended for the capture of sprats or smelts according to 

 the season. The Cleethorpes net was only up for about a month in 

 January and February, but the Humberstone net remained in use 

 until April. I examined a week^s catch, in the latter net, at the 

 end of January. It consisted of a large basket of sprats, 2 to 5;^ 

 inches, but mostly about 3| inches; less than half a stone of small 

 herring, locally termed " scad," 5^ to 7^ inches ; about 300 

 whiting, 4 to 7^ inches; 14 plaice, If to 7^ inches, and a few other 

 fish of less important species. These were removed from the net and 

 carted up to the house, where the saleable fish were sorted out, the 

 rest being used for manure. Later in the season I am informed that 

 large numbers of small cod and whiting were taken in the Humber- 

 stone net, but I had not another opportunity of inspecting the catch. 



Ground- seining. — Only two ground-seines arc in use at Cleethorpes, 

 and do not appear to be often worked. Eels, smelts, and plaice 



