of the Ashing done by these sailing vessels from Lowestoft, if not the only kind of 

 fishing they carry on. In the case of the steamers, plaice fishing ranks as a rule below 

 other kinds of fishery; there are however, at some ports, especially London, small 

 steamers which fish in summer from time to time for plaice alone, and that in the 

 regions of the young fish grounds, viz; Areas As, As, Bs and B4. 



The composition of the English landings is to a certain extent determined down- 

 wards by a size-limit, which, though not legally enforced, is yet observed in practice, 

 of 18 — 20 cm. Plaice below this size are therefore rarely found in the landings. Plaice 

 under 25 cm. long (i. e., up to 24 cm. inclusive) will in the following be designated as 

 "undersized" . Plaice under 29cm. (i.e., up to 28 cm. inclusive) will be called ''smair, 

 as being in number and weight more or less practically identical with the market class 

 termed "small" in most English ports. Similarly plaice over 35 cm. long can be called 

 ' 'large. ' ' 



a. The Landings from the diflFerent Areas. 



The following Table i gives a comparative view of the average annual quantity 

 and composition of the English landings of plaice from the North Sea, calculated for 

 the period of measurement 1905/08. 



This table shows, that the quantity and size of the plaice taken by English fishery 

 vary greatly according to the different sub-districts or areas of the North Sea. The 

 greater part of the plaice, more than the half, in weight and number, of the whole of 

 comes from the three areas, Bs, B4 and Ca. Of the "undersized" plaice, 



the landings. 



