26 



Paii III. — Tiventieth Annual Reyport 



averages for the intermediate month being 43'9 and 36"2, respectively. 

 If these are combined with the average for the hauls actually made in 

 July in the other yeai'S, the indicated average would be 47"2 instead 

 of 60-7. 



In the case of long rough dabs the figures show an increase in all the 

 months, from one period to another, both in the averages and 

 percentages, except for March, 1901. The averages for the various 

 months in the three periods are these: — September, 21 '2, 35'2, 38'2 ; 

 March, 13-4, 22-4, 19-1 ; April, 12-4, 19-1, 39-7; July, 191, 25-5, 381. 

 The averages for the various months combined, in each peiiod, 

 are, 16"2, 25'2, 33"5. The percentages for the various months in the 

 three periods are, for September, lO'O, 16-2, and 29*2 ; for March, 20-7, 

 25-0, 19-3; for April, 12-6, 17-4, 232; and for July, 11-4, 13 1, 17-4; and 

 the percentages for the months combined in each period are, 12 '2, 

 16"7, 21"3. These figures show that the long rough dabs have inci-eased 

 in abundance since the closure, both absolutely and relatively, and that 

 the increase apparently continues. As stated, no hauls were made in 

 March and July in 1887 and 1888. In 1887 the June average was 

 22-7, and the August average 25*9 ; in 1888 the corresponding averages 

 were 11 "6 and 21-7, the mean being 24*3 and 16'6. If combined with 

 the Jvily hauls in other years, the indicated average would be 20 

 instead of 19'1. 



The nvimbers of the other flat-fishes taken are comparatively small. 

 In the first period 43 witch soles were caught, the average being 0'6, 

 and the percentage 0'5 ; in the second period the number was 91, the 

 average being 0'9. and the pei'centage 0'6 ; in the third period the 

 number was 40, the average r 5, and the percentage I'O. The number 

 of flounders taken in the first period was 72, with an average of Tl and 

 a percentage of 0'8 ; in the second period the number caught was 170, 

 the average being 1'6, and the percentage I'O; in the third period the 

 number was 41, the average 1*6, and the percentage TO. So far as the 

 very scanty evidence goes, therefore, these two species appear to have 

 increased. Thirteen turbot were taken, six in the first period, five in the 

 second, and two in the third ; and eight brill, viz., seven in the second 

 period and one in the third. The total flat-fishes for each period are as 

 follow : — 



