22 Part III. — Twentieth Annual Bejjort 



In April in the first period twenty-one hai\ls yielded 3082 fishes, the 

 average per haul being 146-8. The number of fiat-fishes was 2054, and 

 the average 97"8 ; the number of round fishes was 931, and the average 

 44'3. In the twenty-eight hauls in the second period 5006 fishes were 

 caught, giving an average of 178'8. Flat-fishes, numbering 3073, gave 

 an average of 109'7, and round fishes, numbering 1740, averaged 62-1 

 per haul. In the seven hauls in 1901, 1826 fishes were secured, with an 

 average of 260-9 per haul. The number of flat-fishes was 1199, and the 

 average 171-3, and the number of round fishes 543, the average being 

 77-6. 



In July in the first period 5763 fishes were captiired in the fifteen 

 hauls, the average being 384-2. The flat-fishes numbered 2509, the 

 average per haul being 167-3 ; round fishes numbered 3127, with an 

 average of 2085. In the twenty-eight hauls in the second period 11,670 

 fishes were taken, and the average per haul was 416-8. Flat-fishes, 

 numbering 5420, gave an average of 193-6, and i-ound fishes, which 

 numbered 6051, showed an average per haiil of 216-1. In the seven 

 hauls in 1901 the number of fishes caught was 2225, the average being 

 317-9. The number of flat-fishes was 1531, with an average of 218-7, 

 and the number of round fishes 615, with an avei'age of 87 "9. 



Taking all the corresponding months in the three periods, the number 

 of fishes taken in the 65 hauls in the first period was 15,659, the 

 average teing 240-7. In the 106 hauls in the second period the 

 number captured was 29,404, and the average 277'4, In the 26 hauls 

 in the third period the total was 6,241, and the average per haul 240-0. 

 In the first period 8647 flat-fishes, with an average of 133'0, and 6608 

 round fishes, with an average of 101-7, were taken. In the second 

 period the flat-fishes numbered 16,005, the average per haul being 

 151"0, and the round fishes numbered 12,702, with an average of 1198. 

 In the third period 4078 flat-fishes were taken, the average being 

 156-8, and 1919 round fishes, with an average of 73-8. 



These figures indicate that the average abundance of all kinds of fish, 

 taken together, in the closed waters, in the months named, was much 

 the same in the period 1886-1890, as in 1900-1901, while there was- an 

 increase in the second pei'iod. The average for flat-fishes is greater in 

 each successive period, and gi-eater in each month of the successive 

 periods, with the exception of September in the last. There is not the 

 same uniformity in the avei-age catch of i-ound fishes, a circumstance 

 due, as we shall see, for the most part to the great fluctuations in the 

 numbers of haddocks captured. 



Flat-fishes. 

 Turning to the consideration of the various species of flat-fishes in the 

 three periods, it will be found that the averages in certain cases show 

 considerable vmiformity of vai-iation, indicating a general falling-off in 

 the abundance of plaice and lemon soles within the closed waters, and 

 an increase in the number of dabs. The particulars are set forth in 

 the accompanying Table. In September in the fii'st pei-iod the average 

 for plaice was 85*7 per haul ; in the second period it was 63-2 ; and in 

 1890, 38-6. In March in the first period it was 32-6 ; in the second, 

 36-8 ; and in the third, 28*1. In April in the first period it was 44-0 ; 

 in the second, 41*9 ; and in the third, 46-7. In July in the first period 

 it was 66-4 ; in the second, 65-9 ; and in the third, 69-4. The averages 

 for all the months combined in each of the three periods are, 

 i-espectively, 56-4 for the first, 51-8 for the second, and 46-3 for the 

 third, thus showing a progressive decline. In the first period no hauls 

 were made in IVlarch and July of the most productive year, viz, 1887, 

 or in 1888, which was less productive. In 1887 the average for June 



