IMPOVERISHMENT OF THE GROUNDS 251 



these areas had led to a considerable augmentation 

 of the numbers of fishes inhabiting them. 



The results of further experiments, however, 

 showed that these conclusions were premature, 

 and the problem was seen to be much less simple 

 than had been originally supposed. I may antici- 

 pate, and give the results of the first ten years of 

 experimental trawling. These results have been 

 discussed very freely, 1 but the following statement 2 

 shows what had, beyond doubt, taken place. 

 Four species of flat fishes are dealt with, which 

 are : plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), lemon sole 

 (Pleuronectes microcephalus) , dab (Pleuronectes li- 

 manda)^ and long rough dab (Drepanopsetta 

 ( = Hippoglossoides) limanoides) . The whole ten-year 

 period is divided into two quinquennial periods. 



1 See in particular M'Intosh, Resources of the Sea, Cambridge 

 University Press, 1899; Banff shire Journal, April-June, 1899, Banff, 

 1899: a destructive criticism of M'Intosh; and Garstang, Journal 

 Marine Biological Association^ vol. vi., No. i, 1900. 



2 Fulton, Report, Scottish Fishery Board for 1895 ( l8 96), pt. iii. 

 p. 25; and Report for 1898, pt. hi. p. 10 (1899). 



