58 Part III. — Twenty-sixth Annual Report 



Locligilp- Big 



head. Havboar. Salen. Strachur. Inveraray. Mean. 

 1st Period, 



1899, 26-0 39-2 60-0 28-0 23-2 316 



2nd Period, 

 1903,1904, 

 1906-1908, 29-7 28-25 Sl'O 28-5 11-2 26'0 



In July, however, the number of collections was not only large but 

 there was in each period five collections in this month, in all the years of 

 the first period except 1899 and in all those of the second period except 

 1907, and it was in this month that the largest number of fish were 

 taken, amounting to over 60 per cent, of the whole. The mean number 

 of plaice taken per hour at each station in the two periods is shown as 

 follows : — 



There was thus a very considerable reduction of the average number per 

 hour's fishing at each of the stations, and the mean reduction amounted to 

 74 fish per hour. The detailed averages are given in the table, page 64, 

 and are discussed below. 



In August, collections were obtained in seven of the years, namely, 

 in 1899 and 1901 in the first period, and in all the years of the second 

 period except 1907. About 20 per cent, of the total number of 

 plaice obtained were taken in this month, and the mean number per 

 hour's fishing at each station is as follows : — 



The reduction in the average number in this month was much less, and 

 at one station— Salen — the averages were practically identical. The 

 details are given in Table III., but the comparison is of less value 

 than in August, for the reason stated, there being nine collections in the 

 two years of the first jieriod as compared with twenty-three collections 

 in the five years of the second period. 



In September there were two collections in each period, in 1898 and 

 1900 in the first, and in 1903 and 1905 in the second. The average 

 number of plaice taken at each station in the two period^ is as follows : — 



The reduction is small here also, and at two of the stations the average 

 in the last period is higher than in the first. It may be noted, however, 

 that in the .second period there was only one collection made in this 

 month at Lochgilphead and that was in the most productive year of the 

 period — 1905. 



