— 27 — LATER STAGES: PLEURONECTIDS 



The early experimental hauls of the research steamers appear to have had little 

 or no definite locus, in reference to the quantitative problems involved. It is similarly 

 the case with the statistical returns obtained from the commercial vessels. If it be presently 

 found necessary to give a sharper quantitative expression to our knowledge of the plaice of 

 the North Sea, it would be well to consider a combined scheme in which five or six lines with 

 stations, running seawards in a direction at right angles to the shore, could be periodically 

 investigated by the several national steamers at stated periods. Such a series of lines 

 would follow in succession along the coast of Denmark, Germany, Holland and England, 

 and the result would be available not only for plaice, but to a large extent for the other 

 shallow water pleuronectids, such as dab, flounder, brill, turbot and sole. Probably the 

 results obtained from such a scheme would outweigh in value those obtained from 

 enormous numbers of experimental hauls scattered over the North Sea without any 

 definite relation to the known facts of distribution. 



In the last Report, certain recommendations were made for research in the Southern 

 North Sea (Flemish Bight) and off Flamborough Head in special relation to the spawning 

 of the plaice. This working, consisting of plankton observations on the distribution of 

 the pelagic eggs, floating bottle experiments, and examination of market material, was 

 carried out by the English staff during the winter of 1910 — 11, and it is hoped that 

 reports upon the subject will be shortly forthcoming. 



