224 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



a night now. My opinion of the matter is this, that as the 

 ground from Horn Reef to Langeroog, within a less depth 

 than twelve fathoms, is a natural nursery for the young 

 brood, if the wanton destruction of it continues as it has 

 done, we shall soon find it extremely difficult to find even 

 a moderate supply of full-grown plaice, and I have no 

 doubt that soles would be more plentiful too were some 

 protection afforded. It is to the interest and benefit of 

 every one in the fish trade that no English trawler should 

 be permitted to fish within the above depth." 



Mr. Mann, writing from Bournemouth to the Field, in 

 April, 1882, observed : "I have just weighed a sole of one 

 ounce, and a turbot of four ounces, which were exposed for 

 sale here. They were selected from many others of like 

 size. Sixteen pounds weight were captured on one occasion, 

 the largest not exceeding eight ounces. The bulk were 

 taken in long-shore nets, known as ' tucks,' of small mesh, 

 from which nothing can escape ; but this form of net does 

 not kill the fish, which ought to be at once returned to its 

 native element." Small turbots and soles are often placed 

 in the bottom of the pads and boxes sent to the London 

 markets, but the bulk of them are sold in the towns and 

 villages along the sea coast. 



It has again and again been brought prominently to 

 notice, especially about the northern grounds of the North 

 Sea, that the supply of soles taken in British waters is 

 yearly decreasing, as evidenced by the trawlers having to 

 go further out to sea, that an increased number of vessels 

 capture only an amount similar to what formerly were 

 obtained by fewer boats manned with less hands, and like- 

 wise that the fish supplied to the markets consists of such 

 as are much smaller than used to be the case. Mr. E. Jex, 

 of Billingsgate, remarked (January /th, 1882), "There have 



