— 2f, 



APPENDIX K: KYLE 



Upon this peculitar formation. The main Atlantic stream in both areas, enters from the 

 north-west and dominates the character of the water and the direction of the currents 

 over nearly the whole expanse. In the North Sea, this main stream passes southward 

 along the east coast of Scotland and England as far as the coast of Norfolk, and then 

 turns to the east and later to the north. The second stream, entering from the English 

 Channel, retains its distinctive character for but a comparatively short distance in the 

 North Sea and has only a special influence, as regards the fisheries, on the south-eastern 

 corner along the Belgian and Dutch coasts. Of more importance is the fresh water of 

 the continental rivers, which mixes with the main stream over the shallow flats on the 

 eastern continental side. In the Kattegat, the second stream, entering from the south, is 

 comparatively fresh water, so that, where it mixes with the main stream over the shallow 

 southern and western parts, the resultant water has a much lower salinity than the 

 Atlantic stream. 



The nature and configuration of the bottom are likewise similar in the two regions. 

 The depth over the greater part of both is less than 44 fathoms (80 m.) and there is a 

 broad tract under 11 fathom (20 m.) along one side, on the east in the North Sea, the 

 west in the Kattegat. The bottom-soil is for the most part sandy down to a depth of 

 20 fathoms, thereafter it is of a muddy character. 



So far as is known at present, these two characteristics, of warm shallow sandy flats 

 and water of reduced salinity, are important factors in the life of the plaice. The great 

 majority of the young plaice of one to two years old are found in less than lO fathoms, 

 and the chief plaice fishing is carried on in less than 30 fathoms. Further, the direction 

 and force of the oceanic currents tend to bring the pelagic young towards the flat sandy 

 coasts, not away from them, as has been noted in the case of the Norwegian plaice fisheries. 



These facts are of importance, therefore, in considering the effects of fishing on the 

 plaice population of the Kattegat and North Sea. Both are peculiarly adapted to the 

 plaice and nowhere else do we find such large areas so suited to its requirements ; further, 

 there is no other of the principal food-fishes so specialized in this way. The real centres 

 for the sole, brill and turbot lie further to the west and south, and their bathymétrie 

 range is much greater than that of the plaice. Amongst the principal round fishes, again, 

 the only species that is specially at home in the North Sea like the plaice, is the haddock. 

 As will be shown, the condition of the haddock fishery in the North Sea is similar in 

 many respects to that of the plaice. 



The limits of the North Sea are here taken to be: on the west, the British Isles and 

 a line drawn due north from Shetland to öi°N.L. ; on the north, from this point along 

 the line of 61° to Norway; on the east, Norway from 6i°N. L. to the Naze and along a 

 line from the Naze to Hanstholm in Denmark, thence the Danish, German, Dutch, 

 Belgian and French coasts; on the south, South Foreland in England to Cape Grisnez 

 in France. 



In the Norwegian fisheries reports, the northen limit of the North Sea on the Nor- 

 wegian side is Cape Stat 62°u'N. L., and this limit is also taken by Krümmel', whose 

 limits otherwise, are also quite different from those taken here, and by Henking^. The 

 limits taken here are in accordance with the International Convention of 1882. 



1 Versuch einer vergleichenden Morphologie der Meeresgründe. Leipzig 1879. 



2 Mitteilungen des Deutschen Seefischerei- Vereins, 1901, p. 3. 



Appendix K 4 



