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Table 8. Size and composition of the annual landings of plaice in all countries 



from the North Sea. 



This table, which will, I trust, express without serious error the actual conditions, 

 shows the present total annual landings from the North Sea at roughly 203 million 

 plaice, which, with an average weight per fish of 223 gr., gives a total weight of about 

 45 million kilogrammes. About 40*'/o of this number, and 20 % of the weight, are 

 plaice under 25 cm. long, and less than 166 gr. — or '/c* of a kilo — in single weight. 

 The quantity of so called "large" plaice, of over 35 cm. long, can be estimated roughly 

 at 6 "/o of the total number and 20 "/o of the total weight. The medium sized plaice 

 of from 25 to 35 cm. will thus make up 54 % of the number and 60 "jo of the weight. 

 The average age of a North Sea plaice of 25 cm. long can be estimated at 3'^/2 years; 

 that of a plaice of 35 cm. at 5 years. From this it follows that only 6 "/o of all the 

 North Sea plaice landed have reached an average age of over 5 years; 54 "/o are be- 

 tween 3^/2 and 5 years old, und 40 "/o under 3^/2 years old. 



2. Size and composition of the catcties actually made by the fishing 

 vessels, but not brought to land complete. 



The analyses of the actual catches of the trawling vessels — steamers and sailing 

 ships — clearly show that the composition of the catch samples from most North Sea 

 waters is different from that of the market samples. The catch-samples, or actual catches, 

 contain as a rule a certain number of small plaice, which, on account of their small 

 market value, or owing to the existence of a size-limit, are picked out by the fishermen 

 and thrown overboard again. The relative quantity of these rejected fish in proportion 

 to the market catch actually landed, varies greatly, according to the situation of the 

 ground, and the time of year. It is naturally greatest where the most small plaice of 

 little value are found, i. e., in the southern areas of the North Sea on the so-called 



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