454 



Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



(iii.)— NOTES ON THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT NETS UPON THE 

 CAPTUEE OF IMMATURE FISH. 



Experiments were made during the cruise of the "Fingal" to test the "Comyn's 

 Patent Discriminating Trawl " against a trawl of ordinary construction and mesh. 

 The object of the former net is to avoid the capture of small fish. The mesh is larger 

 than that of an ordinary trawl net, and is netted on the square instead of diamond- 

 wise. The body of the net is more ample, does not taper towards the cod end, and is 

 shorter. In lieu of pockets, there is a large funnel at the mouth of the net. 



On the 8th May, 1890, a haul was made in the Eenmare Eiver with the ordinary 

 net. This was then unbent, and the patent net substituted, and hauled back over the 

 same line. 



The results were as follows : — 



Ordinary Net, J hour. 



6 Cod, mostly immature. 



33 Plaice, 9 to 21 inches. 



16 Common Dab, 5 to 10 inches. 



3 Common Sole, mature and fine. 



Fatent Trawl, 1 hour. 



13 Plaice, 10 to 20 inches. 

 3 Plaice, 4J inches. 



1 Common Sole, mature and fine. 



2 Rays. 



The next experiment was made in Blacksod Bay. On the 16th June 3 hauls were 

 made with the ordinary net on the same Kne. On the 17th June the patent net was 

 bent on, and two hauls made over the same line. At the end of the second haul the 

 funnel was found choked with weeds. 



The results were as follows ; — 

 Ordinary Net, average of 3 Hauls, 2 hours each. Patent Net, 2 Hauls, \\ and \ hour^ 



Grey Gurnard, 2, mature. 

 Brill, 2, 1 mature, 1 immature. 

 Plaice, 65, most immature. 

 Common Sole, 17, nearly all mature. 

 Rays, 6.1 



Brill, 3, immature. 

 Plaice, 41, most immature. 

 Common Dab, 9, mature. 

 Common Sole, 13, mature. 

 Rays, 11, mature. 

 Gunnel], 1. 



In Inver Bay, on the 20th June, hauls were made with the Patent Net on two lines,, 

 one at the mouth and the other inside the trawling limits in that Bay. On the 25th 

 hauls were made on the same lines with the ordinary net. A westerly' gale had been 

 blowing in the interval, which may have affected the distribution of fish. 



1 Fish which were not represented in every haul are omitted. 



