of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



97 



Eight thornback rays, three of which were marketable, one angler, and 

 one pogge (Agonus) were also taken. 



The vessel then steamed to the south coast of the Firth and made six 

 drags, occupying altogether 24 hours and 20 minutes of actual trawling, 

 between Burghead and Hopeman, in depths from six to fifteen fathoms. 

 Tlie total catch of fish in these hauls amounted to 2451, of which 1031 

 were marketable and 1420 unmarketable, as follows: — 



Nineteen thornback rays, of which sixteen were marketable, three 

 herrings, one Norway pout, one pogge, one dragonet, one red gurnard, 

 and 39 anglers were also taken in these hauls. 



On 2nd July the " Strathearn " steamed to the Dornoch Firth, where 

 the hauls made by the " Star of Peace " a month previously were so 

 disappointing, and anchoring a "dan " in ten fathoms south-east from 

 Dunrobin Castle, eight drags were made arovind it in from five to twelve 

 fathoms. The catches were less satisfactory than at Burghead Bay, the 

 total number of fishes obtained in the 28 hours and 52 minutes actual 

 trawling being 1809, of which 1288 were marketable and 521 

 unmarketable. The particulars are as follow : — 



I 



Thirteen thornbacks, all except one marketable, one grey skate, ten 

 herrings, twenty-nine sprats, and thirteen anglers were also taken. 



At this time the quantity of medusida? [Cyanea and Anrelia) in the 

 Dornoch Firth was very great, and the net when brought on board was 

 pretty well filled with them. Owing to their abundance the diag with 

 the small-meshed net arovind the cod-end was limited to twenty-one 

 minutes. When hauled, the ordinary cod-end was found to contain six 

 maiketable plaice, and twelve immarketable fishes, viz., ninecommon dabs, 



