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The similarity between these EngUsh and German steamer landings is remarkably 

 strong, with the exception of the average weights, which are very different; this is 

 however, of but slight importance, as we have here to deal with empirically determined 

 weights, which are arrived at in different ways and not by any uniform method. As the 

 English and German steam trawlers (English sailing vessels do not fish in Area B-t) 

 employ exactly the same methods of fishing, and especially as they observe the same legal 

 or accepted size-limit of i8 and 20cm. respectively and as moreover, the correct noting of the 

 catch in this area is very reliable, we can regard this agreement of the English and German 

 plaice landings from this area in point of composition, as a proof of the reliability of the 

 measuring methods employed, and of the representative character of the market samples 

 measured, and therefore also as a proof of the reliability of all our conclusions as to 

 the composition of the landings in general 



A further similarity between the results of the English and German market meas- 

 urements from Area B4, and one which also proves, in this respect, the reliability of 

 the methods of investigation, is the remarkable likeness between the composition of the 

 monthly landings in both countries, these having been investigated in Germany as well 

 as in England. In both cases we find, in Area B4, the heavy decrease in winter in 

 the number of small, undersized plaice in the landings, and the corresponding . increase 

 in the number of large fish; then the sudden reappearance of the small plaice in March; 

 further, a second smaller minimum of the small plaice in August, and a second smaller 

 maximum in the autumn. 



In the case of the steamer landings from Area C2, the similarity in the composi- 

 tion is not so great as in B4. The English landings here seem to contain many more 

 large plaice than the German; this is, however, in all probability simply due to the fact, 

 that the German steamers mostly fish the south-eastern parts of this very extensive 

 area, adjacent to B4, while the English keep rather to the western and northern parts, 

 which are probably richer in large plaice. The difference might also in part be due to 

 the fact that the English landings are here stated as for the three years 1905/08, and 

 the German for 1909. 



Of great importance to the practical plaice question is the very considerable diffe- 

 rence in the composition of the German steamer and sailing ship landings. The sailing 

 ship landings contain much smaller plaice than the steamer landings; the former show 

 no less than 65 "/o in number and 52 "/o in weight of "undersized" plaice, as against 

 30% and 16 "/o in the case of the latter, and correspondingly 96 "/o and 86 °/o "small" 

 plaice, as against 73 "/o and 52 %. These great differences are easy to understand, as 

 the German plaice fishery from sailing vessels is almost entirely restricted to the areas 

 A3 and B4, which, in comparison with the grounds of the steamers, which he' much 

 farther out at sea, might almost be called shore fishery. As sailing ships and steamers 

 land about the same annual quantity of plaice, the yearly destruction by sailing vessels 

 of young, undersized plaice is absolutely greater than that of the steamers; for the year 

 1909 about 4,500,000 fish as against 2,100,000, i. e. more than double: or, reckoned 

 in weight, 504,000 kg. as against 237,000 kg. As the great majority of the plaice 

 taken by the sailing vessels are brought to market alive, and as these live plaice fetch 

 a much higher market price, (about 50 pfg. per kg.) than the small steamer plaice, 

 which are always brought in dead, (about 25 pfg. per kg.), the sailing vessels utilise 



