25 



could be carried out. Uiifortmiately, the wliole time of a 

 trawler's limited crew is fully taken up in reaping the 

 harvest from the sea, in attendinfj; to their gear, and in 

 preparing the fish for market. This leaves them little 

 opportunity to collect and plant fresh seed, even although 

 it be practically placed in their hands. 



The results accomplished this year, again under certain 

 difficulties, clearly show that eggs can be successfully 

 incubated in the water of this part of the Lancashire 

 coast. At times care is required in filtering the water, 

 especially during a prevalence of southerly gales, when 

 much mud is brought up. On the whole, the water after 

 passing through the filter, is sufficiently clear. In the 

 earlier part of the year " white felt" was used for covering 

 the filter frames, but latterly we have adopted " Turkish 

 towelling," which gives quite as good results, and is 

 more economical. The specific gravity of the water was 

 again satisfactory, and during the hatching season only 

 varied from 1-0026 to 1-0027. 



Preparations are now being made for next season, and 

 already a considerable number of nearly mature fiounders 

 have been collected and placed in the tanks for spawning 

 in the spring. We have chosen the flounder or white 

 fluke for work this year as being a fish that is of importance 

 in the neighbourhood, is hardy in captivity, and which 

 naturally spawns nearer the coast than most other flat 

 fish, and is therefore the more likely to shed and fertilise 

 its eggs successfully in our tanks. Mr. Ascroft gives a 

 brief sketch (see p. 30) of its life-history and habits as 

 known in our district, which is of interest in this connec- 

 tion. 



Table showing number of Fish Fry set free : — 

 March 21. 113,000 plaice, Morecambe Bay Light Vessel. 

 ,, 31. 88,960 ,, 8 miles from above ship. 



