of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



47 



A haul with the small-meshed net was also taken in Burghead Bay for 

 seventy-five minutes, in from five to twelve fathoms, and the total 

 number of fish caught was only 173, as follows : — 



Another drag with the small-meshed net was taken on the so-called 

 " witch ground " between Bnrghead Bay and the Suters of Cromarty, in 

 thirty and thirty-one fathoms, and it lasted for an hour. The total 

 number of fishes caught was 2112, belonging to twenty species. The 

 numbers of each kind are as follows : — 



Before the vessel left the Moray Firth a few hauls were taken at night 

 off Lossiemouth in twenty and twenty-one fathoms, but the net suffered 

 much and was usually found split when it was hauled. The particulars 

 of these hauls were not recorded ; but in the first the catch included two 

 baskets of large haddocks, one basket of mediums, and three baskets of 

 thirds, as well as two cod, twenty lemon dabs, half a basket of plaice, 

 and half a basket of whitings. The offal thrown overboard consisted of 

 seven basketfuls, mostly of small haddocks. 



On the way to port a small-meshed drag was taken in Aberdeen Bay 

 on 29th December. It was made in from eight to seventeen fathoms, 

 and lasted for an hour. The total number of fishes caught was 4270, the 

 great bulk consisting of small whitings. The numbers of the various 

 species are as follows : — 



16 



39 



1 



2 



2 



1 



The total quantity of fish, in cwts., landed from this trip was recorded 

 by the Fishery Officer as follows : — 



The quantity was small, considering the duration of fishing, but the 

 foggy weather which prevailed for a large part of the time somewhat 

 hampered the operations. It was noticed also that young herringii and 

 sprats did not form so large a proportion of the small fishes caught in the 

 small-meshed net as was usually the case. Foreign trawlers, moreover, 

 were observed to be fishing in some numbers in the Firth at the time, 

 and three of them were working along with us on Smith Bank. 



D 



