COUNCIL — JULY 1905 — APPEND. C . 59 
showing higher values throughout than the Danish and Scottish, whilst the Scot- 
tish values are higher than the Danish. 
The possible causes of the differences may be mentioned: firstly, the condi- 
tion of the fish when measured, whether dry or wet; secondly, the season of the 
year, before or after spawning, in winter or in summer; thirdly, differences in the 
sexes; and fourthly, differences in the regions, i. e. racial differences. It is impos- 
sible as yet to say, how far each or all of these share in causing the differences, 
but until further: information is forthcoming, it is advisable to lay most stress on 
the first cause. The condition of the fish when weighed may obviously cause very 
great differences in the weights and this should be the first point investigated. 
The method followed to obtain the proportion of the plaice by weight under 
a given size was, first of all to convert the measurements of length into measure- 
ments of weight (as shown in Tables VI, VIII etc.) by means of Table IV. The 
percentage by weight under certain sizes mentioned was then taken to represent 
the percentage under the same size in the total quantities of small landed in 
each country. 
The nature and amount of the statistical material received by the Bureau 
is shown in Tables I and II (pp. 60—62). Some further particulars may be given here, 
in order to indicate how far the results already gained fall short of the actual 
quantities of small plaice landed in the various countries. Attention may be 
restricted to the North Sea ports, as the material received regarding the Kattegat 
is insufficient to enable us to make an estimate of the quantities of small plaice 
landed from that region. 
With regard to the North Sea, the countries from which detailed measure- 
ments of the plaice have been received are: England, Holland, Germany and Den- 
mark. Belgium has sent in very full information regarding the total quantities of 
small plaice landed at Ostend. Each of these countries may be considered in detail. 
England: The measurements sent in represent the class “small” of the 
published market-statistics for 1903 and 1904 As Table I shows, the measurements 
were taken in the months April to June in 1903 and February to August 1904. 
The remaining months of the year, i. e. of autumn and winter, are thus unrepre- 
sented. Judging from the material received from other countries, the average size 
of the plaice in the class “small” increases during the autumn and winter months 
and the percentages at the higher size-lengths are thereby increased (see Memo- 
