32 



Part III. — Tiventy -second Annual Be'port 



la Aberdeen Bay five hauls were made on the 16th and 17th of 

 the month, with fair results, a strong breeze blowing from the 8.W., 

 while the sea was rough. The first was off Black Dog in from eight to 

 twelve fathoms, and it lasted four hours. The catch amounted to 1978 

 fishes, of which 1938 were marketable, most consisting of haddocks. Of 

 these 1517 were caught, all marketable, the majority being "large" or 

 " firsts," viz. 749. Thirteen cod and 121 codlings, of which 118 were 

 marketable, were included in the catch, as well as 264 whitings, twenty- 

 two plaice, one lemon dab, and twenty-eight common dabs. The next 

 drag in the same locality, and in from nine to twelve fathoms, gave almost 

 the same result, viz. a total of 1964, of which 1889 were marketable. 

 The number of haddocks was 1099, all marketable, there being 395 large, 

 164 medium, and 540 thirds, There were also four cod and 282 codlings, all 

 but nine marketable, 275 whitings, ten brill, 194 plaice, twelve lemon dabs, 

 and seventy-three common dabs. A third haul for four hours in the same 

 locality gave 1287 fishes, 1216 of which were marketable, the bulk of the 

 catch consisting of large and medium haddocks, cod, codlings, and plaice. 



The fourth drag was made in from twelve to twenty fathoms, from the 

 same place towards Cruden Skerries, and lasted for three hours and a 

 quarter. The catch consisted of 1685 fishes, 1634 being marketable. 

 The number of haddocks was 790, of which 237 were large, 156 

 mediums, and 397 thirds. Besides nine cod, 387 codlings were taken, all 

 but five marketable, 228 whitings, 204 plaice, some dabs and rays. The 

 fifth haul was made from the Skerries towards Aberdeen and lasted for 

 an hour. The catch amounted to 208 fishes, chiefly haddocks, whitings, 

 and plaice ; it was made with the small-meshed net around the cod-end. 



The three hauls in from eight to twelve fathoms, the time of actual 

 fishing being eleven hours and fifty minutes, yielded a total of 5229 

 fishes, the rate per hour being 442*0. The marketable numbered 5043, 

 with an average per hour of 426*3, and the unmarketable 186, with an 

 average of 15*7. The aggregate of haddocks was 3281, with an average 

 per hour of 277 3. A feature was the large number of marketable cod- 

 lings, of which 570 were taken in three hauls. 



The particulars of the catches of the first four drags in Aberdeen Bay 

 are these : — 



In the haul with the small-meshed net, for an hour, the total number 

 of fishes caught was 384, as follows : — Plaice 42, common dab 26, long 

 rough dab 1, cod 22, haddock 94, whiting 190, sprat 9. 



