22 Fishery Board for: Scotland. 
In the case of plaice (Fig. 22), while there are in certain areas 
some indications of a double maximum, it is in the autumn months 
that small plaice are generally most abundant; and the difference 
is very great between their comparative abundance at this season, 
and their small abundance, relatively to the large and medium 
plaice, in spring and early summer. 
Fic. 22. Percentage proportion of small and extra small plaice (in the total 
catch of that fish), in certain Areas, from month to month ; mean of 
the years 1908-1912. (Smoothed curves.) 
The same table (Table X.) shows us, in a very striking way, the 
greater percentage proportion of the small classes of these three fish 
that have been landed during the years 1908-12, as compared with 
the earlier period, 1904-7. The shape of the curve is very similar 
in the two periods; that is to say, the seasons of relative maximum 
and minimum are indicated in both periods alike; but (as is 
illustrated in a single instance in Fig. 23) the curve for the latter 
period stands high above the level at which it stood in the former 
years. 
In a small supplementary table (Table Xa), I have briefly 
summarised the comparison between the proportion of small fish 
landed in the two periods, 1904-7 and 1908-12. Here we show 
the percentage increase or decrease in the latter, as compared with 
the former, period, of the proportion of small cod or codling, small 
haddock and small plaice, occurring in the total catch of those fishes. 
