24 Part III. —Twenty-first Annual Report 
The area over which these ten hauls were taken was considerable, 
as explained in the description of the movements of the vessel, above 
given, and the range in depth varied from fifty-eight to seventy-eight 
fathoms, a difference of twenty fathoms or 120 feet. I have therefore 
contrasted the catches of the two hauls in shallower water—fifty-eight 
to sixty fathoms—with five drags in from seventy-one to seventy-eight 
fathoms. The number of fishes obtained in the former was 2258, or 
an average of 1129 per haul; in the latter the number was 8722, 
or an average of 1744 per haul; in the former the average of mnarket- 
able fishes was 965 and in the latter 1402. 
The numbers and averages for the flat-fishes in the two groups are indi- 
cated in the following Table, (1) representing the hauls in the shallower 
water, and (2) those in the deeper water :— 
Lemon Common Long . 
Plaice. ; Witch. Rough | Megrim. | Halibut. 
Sole. Dab. Dav 
(1) No. 5 5 49 161 78 9 2 
Av 22D SD) 24°5 80°5 39:0 4:5 1:0 
(2) No. . 2 462 58 1,403 222 6 
Av. : 04 92:4 17°6 280°6 44:4 1:2 
The difference in the two cases is considerable, but the nature of 
the bottom must also be taken into account. In the shallower water 
hauls it consisted of sand and shells, and in the deeper water, when 
noted, it was muddy. The deepest water in which plaice were procured 
during the voyage was sixty-three fathoms (haul No. 11), where one was 
obtained ; the aggregate number during the trip was six. Lemon soles 
were procured in deeper water, one being got in seventy-four fathoms 
where the bottom was muddy, and another in seventy-three fathoms. 
Common dabs, much more numerous in the shallower water hauls, were 
also got in those in the deeper water, on a muddy bottom, but in much 
fewer numbers, and decreasing with the depth; thirteen were taken in 
_a haul in seventy-six fathoms, and three in a haul in seventy-eight 
fathoms. 
The particulars concerning the proportions of the round-fishes in 
the two groups of hauls are shown thus :— 
Cod. | Codling| H9d- hwniting] Gur | saithe! Hake.| Ling. |'Tusk.| Ct 
(1)No.| 8 | 237 | 1,154 | 401 | 984 3 | a | Saale eaiene 
Ave 2:01) 18:5) 577708 20055 42:0 Leb) Osb A 2 OR eal On epost 
(2)No.| 26 | 471 | 3,499 | 2.263 .| 190,| 10 | 283: | 7 | 7 | 28 
Av.| 5:2 | 942 | 6858 | 4526 | 380 | 20 | 46 | 14 | 14 | 4-6 
All, it will be noticed,were relatively more numerous in the deeper water 
hauls, except codlings, gurnards, ling, and cat-fish ; whitings were more 
than twice as abundant, and hake still better represented. Gurnards 
