29 
THE DISTRIBUTION OF IMMATURE AND OTHER FIsH. 
The statistics, in regard to size, number, &c., of fish, 
taken by Mr. Dawson on the s.s. ‘“‘ John Fell” have been 
carefully analysed by us, with the results given in the 
following pages. We are of opinion, however, that the 
observations have not yet been continued for a sufficient 
length of time to enable us to come to definite conclusions 
in regard to the migrations of fishes during the year in 
our district. 
An area at Blackpool, about 10 miles long, was closed 
two years and a half ago against trawling because it was 
known to be a ‘‘nursery”’ for young food fishes, and 
in order to see what the effect would be on the numbers 
of young fish. On comparison with other grounds it 
seems to us now there are far more immature fish (chiefly 
Plaice and Dabs) on it than elsewhere. The following list 
gives the average number of fish taken in each month with 
the shrimp trawl on the Blackpool closed ground. 
1892. August 270 1893. May 101 
September 712 June 122 
October 1658 July 385 
November 1984 August 437 
December 2471 September 14892 
1893. January 134 (Of these 11000 were Dabs.) 
February 1199 Octobersrccnnarcscs 
March 636 November 2536 
April 302 December 13055 
These seem to show that during the months from 
September to December the young fish congregate in large 
numbers, so that one haul may take thousands, on this 
ground; while for some reason from January or February 
to August (which period covers the spawning season) the 
numbers are comparatively few, say on an average 500 or 
600 per haul. The smallest numbers are in May and 
June. The number of fish taken on this ground seems 
steadily increasing since it has been closed. The largest 
