COUNCIL-MARCH 1920-APPBNDIX — 76 — 



(II). Programme of researches on the plaice, proposed to be undertaken by the Fishery 

 Board for Scotland, as arranged, at the departmental meetings in London, 



February 1920. 



(1) Statistics. 



(a) The Statistics of the Fish landed by Trawlers. Monthly and annual 

 tables and charts to be prepared, with the usual particulars, showing the catch 

 (and the average per 100 hours' fishing) of the various market classes, the precise 

 place of capture to be marked on the charts. 



(b) The statistics for all marketable fishes, as well as plaice, relating to the 

 North Sea, to be tabulated in quarter squares, after the new English system, i. e., 

 bounded by 1° of Long., and 1/2° of Lat. 



(2) Ichthyometry. 



(a) Plaice, from the North Sea grounds in particular, to be measured in as 

 large numbers as possible (the usual particulars of place of capture, etc., being 

 procured) at Aberdeen, and if possible at Granton; the average weights to be as- 

 certained and the condition as to spawning, of males and females, recorded. Similar 

 information to be obtained at some ports in the Moray Firth and the Firth of Clyde, 

 to be selected later. 



(b) The measurements by Fish Measurers to be continued on board trawlers, 

 with records as to the spawning males and females. 



(3) Work of Research Vessels. 



In addition to the trawling observations at the usual stations (including 

 those in the Firth of Clyde), comprising the measurement of all the plaice caught, 

 with records of the sex and sexual condition, it is proposed that the following work 

 should be done: ■ — 



(a) Age determination by the otolith method, on a certain proportion of the 

 plaice caught. 



(b) Marking Experiments, to an extent, and that such places and times, as 

 may be arranged with the English Department. 



(c) Drift-bottles experiments, surface and bottom, especially on spawning 

 areas, also to be arranged later in detail. 



(d) The collection of the pelagic eggs in certain areas, as the Moray Firth, 

 the East Coast and the Firth of Forth. ' 



All the above to be done according to uniform methods and similar apparatus 

 ■ — tow-nets, drift-bottles, and fish-marks. 



(Signed) T. Wemys Fulton. 

 Aberdeen, 25th February 1920. 



