of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



23 



all but twenty-eight marketable ; but only four haddocks were taken. 

 The second drag in the same locality, and lasting for four hours and 

 twenty minutes, yielded only 205 fishes, of which 121 were marketable 

 and eighty-four unmarketable. In this haul only eight cod and four 

 codling were taken, but there were ninety-two haddocks — all but eight 

 marketable ; the plaice numbered twenty-two, and there were a number 

 of small skates. 



A third drag was made off Newburgh to Donmouth for four hours and 

 five minutes, in from eight to sixteen fathoms, and the catch amounted 

 to 375 fishes, 269 of which were marketable and 106 unmarketable. 

 There were included in it forty-seven cod and 1 26 marketable codlings, 

 a coal-fish, 145 plaice (ninety-two marketable), as well as a number of un- 

 marketable dabs, flounders, and skates. Only three haddocks were taken. 



In the three drags in Aberdeen Bay, the time of the fishing being 

 twelve hours and twenty-five minutes, only 1094 fishes were caught, the 

 average per hour's fishing being 88' 1. The marketable numbered 868, 

 with an average number per hour of 69'9, and the unmarketable 226, 

 with an average of 18"2. The total number of haddocks caught was 

 ninety-nine, and of whitings, seven. The following Table gives the 

 particulars of the marketable and unmarketable : — 



A lumpsucker was also taken in one of the hauls. These fish are occa- 

 sionally caught in the trawl net near shore in spring, during their pawn- 

 ing time. 



The vessel then steamed to the Moray Firth, visiting first the south 

 coast. 



At Burghead Bay the catches were not very productive, comparatively 

 few marketable fishes being got except plaice. The first drag, which 

 lasted for three hours and fifty minutes, in from seven to twelve 

 fathoms, yielded a total of 652 fishes, 439 being marketable and 213 

 unmarketable. The former comprised four cod, three codling, only two 

 haddocks, no whitings, one turbot, eleven brill, 329 plaice, seventy com- 

 mon dabs, fourteen flounders, three cat-fishes, and two anglers — the 

 unmarketable consisting almost entirely of dabs. In the second haul, 

 which lasted for four hours and fifteen minutes, 705 fishes were got, of which 

 316 were marketable, the majority consisting of plaice. Twenty-eight 

 skates and rays were taken, ten being marketable, and three herrings. 



