TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. 
TO THE MOST HONOURABLE 
THE MARQUESS OF LINLITHGOW, K.T., G.C.MLG., 
His Majesty's Secretary for Scotland. 
Orrick oF THE FisHEeRy Boarn 
FOR SCOTLAND, 
EpinsurGH, 30th June 1905. 
My Lorp MARQUESS, 
In continuation of our Twenty-third Annual Report, 
we have the honour to submit— 
PART IL—SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS. 
GENERAL STATEMENT. 
This part of the Twenty-third Annual Report deals with the 
scientific investigations conducted by the Board in 1904 in con- 
nection with the sea fisheries of Scotland, so far as these have been 
completed, by means of the Parliamentary Vote vranted for the 
purpose. 
The scientific work has been carried out and the scientific report 
prepared under the supervision of Dr. T. Wemyss Fulton, the 
Scientific Superintendent. 
The researches have been made for the most part at the Board’s 
Marine Laboratory at the Bay of Nigg, Aberdeen, which was 
erected and equipped some years ago. The sea-fish hatchery is 
also situated at the same place, and a statement as to its opera- 
tions during the year will be found below. The provision of a 
suitable boat in connection with the Laboratory would be of much 
advantage in carrying on the investigations. 
The investigations into the condition of the fishing grounds, more 
particularly in the Moray Firth and Aberdeen Bay, which were 
begun five years ago by means of steam-trawlers, were continued 
last year as frequently as circumstances allowed. One of the 
chief objects of these trawling investigations is to ascertain as far 
as possible the changes which may ozcur in the abundance of the 
