14, Part III. —Twenty-third Annual Report 
With the large commercial trawl, the efficient ship, and the experienced 
trawlers in charge, it is possible to make a much more thorough and 
extensive examination of the grounds than was previously possible. 
The work has been sometimes carried on under difficulty, inasmuch as 
since the reduction of the Vote for Scientific Investigations, when the 
International researches were initiated, no assistance was available, and it 
was impossible for me alone to conduct these experiments with the regu- 
larity that was desirable. In autumn of last year, Dr. H. C. William- 
son was re-appointed to the scientific staff of the Board, and I have to 
thank that gentleman for his assistance in these investigations. 
if 
The first of the series of investigations in Aberdeen Bay and the Moray 
Firth was made in January, from the 14th to the 23rd, the steam 
trawler ‘“‘Ern” being employed, one of the objects being to obtain 
a supply of large living plaice for the hatchery at the Bay of Nigg. 
Besides Aberdeen Bay, the places visited were the grounds off the Ord of 
Caithness and Lybster, Dunnet Bay, and Sandside Bay, these two being 
situated on the north coast. Three hauls were made in Aberdeen Bay 
on the 14th, a strong wind blowing from the south-west with rain. The 
first was in from 5 to 20 fathoms, off Newburgh, for four hours and 
five minutes, and the catch was small, comprising 387 fishes, of which 
360 were marketable and 27 unmarketable. Haddocks and codling 
formed the bulk of the catch, there being few plaice, and they were all 
small. The other two hauls were also taken off Newburgh, in from 43 
to 9 fathoms, and they were still less productive, the respective totals 
being 218 and 293 fishes, the hauls lasting for four hours and four 
hours and five minutes. Plaice were again very scarce, and haddocks were 
not numerous, but a considerable number of codling were taken. Among 
the fishes in the second haul were 14 herrings and 22 sprats. In the 
three hauls, lasting for twelve hours and ten minutes, 898 fishes were 
taken, of which: 783 were marketable and 115 unmarketable. The 
numbers of marketable and unmarketable of the various species were as 
follows :— 
Cod, Codling. Haddock. Whiting. Plaice. 
I 5 186 431 71 
II 12 19 27 
Com. Dab. R ier Dak Sprat. Herring. Starry Ray. 
I 28 
I i 4 22 14 16 
