26 Part 11.—Twenty-third Annual Report 
Common Long 
Halibut. | Turbot. | Plaice. | ~ tough Skate. Angler. 
Dab. 
Dab. 
Ue 2 3 346 59 
IL. ; é 230 76 | = 298 12 
Total 2 3 346 289 76 293 12 
Vv. 
The next series of trawling observations was made in the Moray Firth 
in the latter part of November, the trawler employed being the “‘ Bracon- 
hill.” Burghead Bay was first visited, and three hauls were taken there 
on the 2lst-and 22nd in from 5 to 15 fathoms. In the first the 
number of fishes secured in the three hours and fifteen minutes the drag 
lasted was 462, of which 421 were marketable. The bulk of the catch 
consisted of plaice, of which 405 were caught, mostly small and mediums. 
Haddocks were scarce, only 28 being taken, and they were all unmarket- 
able. Seven brill were also included in this catch. In the next haul, 
for three hours and fifty minutes, 1385 fishes were obtained, 1145 being 
marketable and 240 unmarketable. The number of plaice was large, 
viz., 1072, and they were all marketable, chiefly small and mediums. 
Four turbot and 12 brill were also caught in this drag, The other 
two hauls on this ground were equally productive, the catches totalling 
1307 and 1493 fishes respectively, the greater proportion being market- 
able, and consisting chiefly of plaice. 
The vessel then steamed to the so-called ‘‘ witch-ground,” off Cromarty, 
and made a haul there in 27 to 30 fathoms for an hour and ten 
minutes with the small-meshed net around the cod-end; there was a 
strong breeze from the N.N.E., with snow showers and a rough sea, 
The number of fishes in the cod-end was 310, of which 67 were market- 
able ; they chiefly consisted of whitings, witches, and dabs. ‘The small- 
meshed net contained the following fishes :—- 
Codling, - - - 2 | Long Rough Dab, - 152 
Haddock, . - 17} Common Dab, - - 94 
Whiting, - . - 349 | Witch, - - - 21 
Norway Pout, - - 83 | Gurnards, - - 4 
Hake, - - 4 
Two other hauls were taken in this locality, the catches of which were 
not recorded; in the second the net was split and the ground rope 
broken, and the vessel lay to till morning and then returned to Burghead 
Bay, where a series of hauls were made. In the first of these, in 
from 7 to 19 fathoms, for four hours and a half, 1139 fishes 
were secured, of which 939 were marketable and 200 unmarketable. The 
plaice numbered 917, and the haddocks 155, all of the latter except five 
being too small for market; a turbot and 11 brill were also taken. 
In the next drag 1049 fishes were taken in the four hours and ten minutes 
it lasted, almost all marketable, viz., 998, and mostly plaice, which num- 
bered 962. In the third drag, for four hours and fifteen minutes, 1283 
fishes were captured, 1199 of which were marketable; and ina fourth 
haul 1339 were taken, 1262 being marketable, plaice again forming the 
greater portion of the catch, which also included 7 turbot 18 brill. 
