of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



139 



* For eleven months. 



On reference to the chart (Plate I.) it will be observed that cod 

 are proportionally rather more numerous in the areas near the coast, 

 and haddocks about equally numerous, while the other kinds are rather 

 less numerous. There is unfortunately no method except that of per- 

 centages available to indicate the proportional numbers during the year, 

 because that depending on the number of landings is, as we have seen, 

 imperfect, and the number of hours' fishing began to be ascei'tained only 

 in April. It is thus hardly worth while endeavouring to ti-ace the 

 varying abundance of the different species in the various areas in the 

 different months. The percentages in regard to the two most abundant 

 round fishes, cod and haddock, may hoAvever be given, since at the 

 spawning time there is a relative increase of cod and a proportional 

 decrease of haddocks in the areas near the coast compared with the 

 ofi-shore areas. The percentages are as follows : — 



Cod. 



Haddock. 



The facts in regard to the proportional distribution of the various 

 species of flat-fishes in the different areas have been already referred to 

 (p. 82). The monthly percentages vary very considerably, e.g., in area 



