COMM. B — DEC. 1903 —- APPEND. B 
Annexe B 
Report of the Convener on Comparative Trawling Experiments in 1903 
(With 8 Tables) 
The general plan aimed at in the trawling experiments was to obtain two 
hauls from each boat, side by side with the “Huxley”, on the same ground, which 
was to be selected in a locality where the bottom was as uniform as possible. 
The length of each haul was to be two hours. All the fish captured were to be 
measured, and, in the case of the more important species, weighed. Then two 
further hauls were to be made on another ground of a different character. 
Unfortunately bad weather and other accidental circumstances prevented 
this programme from being carried out in all cases. 
The object of the comparison was to determine 
(I) whether the nets employed by the different research vessels captured 
fishes of different kinds and sizes in the same proportions; and if not, to deter- 
mine the differences in selective action; and 
(I) to show the nature of any differences in regard to the total catching 
power of the vessels employed. 
The records of the experiments throw light upon both these points. 
Size of Nets 
The otter-trawls employed by the “Poseidon”, “Wodan” and “Huxley” (and 
“Goldseeker”?) were of nearly the same size and proportions. The “Poseidon’s” 
net was slightly larger than that of the “Huxley”, and the “Wodan’s” net was 
slightly smaller. The ground ropes of the “Poseidon”, “Huxley” and “Wodan” 
respectively measured 41, 38 and 36 metres; the head lines measured 27, 26 and 
95 metres. The sizes of the meshes in different parts of the net in the case of 
the “Poseidon” and “Huxley” were practically identical, the mesh in the cod-end 
being 32 mm. sq. The measurements taken of the “Wodan’s” net showed some 
slight differences, which, however, require verification. 
The otter-trawl of the “Thor” was a much smaller net, having a ground 
rope of 21 metres, head-line 14 metres, mesh of cod-end 40 mm. sq. 
