84 ME. F, DAT ON THE MAEINE FAUITA 



Obserrations on the Marine Fauna oif tlie East Coast of Scotland. 

 By Francis Day, F.L.S. 



[Read December 21, 1882.] 



Dtjeing the last few years considerable interest has been felt, 

 both by naturalists and fishermen, in the fact that the herring- 

 fisheries along the east coast of Scotland have been carried on 

 much further from the shore than was formerly the case, and_ 

 this has necessitated the employment of larger aud better- 

 found fishing crafts, which, however, in boisterous weather find 

 it difficult or impossible to enter with safety into the existing 

 harbours. 



The local fishermen having expressed considerable doubts 

 respecting the accuracy of the charts of the coast. Sir Greorge 

 Balfour, K.O.B., M.P., drew the attention of the Board of Trade 

 to the subject ; and H.M. surveying vessel ' Triton ' was directed 

 to be sent in July 1882, under StafF-Commander Tizard, to survey 

 off Aberdeenshire, Kincardine, and the north part of Forfar,, 



Having been invited to join the survey party, I took the 

 opportunity of inquiring locally into the opinion of the fishermen 

 and others, the reason why the herring-fisheries were being 

 carried on further out to sea, and also if the inshore ones were less 

 prolific than they used to be. For it has appeared to me rather 

 remarkable that some who will not admit the possibility of the 

 inshore fisheries being less prolific than formerly, pointing out 

 the generally increased supply from the line fishermen, do not 

 deny that the inshore herring-fisheries are less prolific than they 

 were a few years since, although an augmented herring supply 

 reaches the market. 



In the following brief notes I have not thought it necessary to 

 enter fully into points which have been discussed elsewhere, but 

 confined myself as much as possible to such as are still sub- 

 jects of debate. Questions of fisheries I have more fully detailed, 

 and drawn attention to some subjects oa which, I would venture 

 to submit, further information is very desirable. 



The Serring-Mshery . — Concerning the investigations of the 

 Commissioners on the " Scotch Herring-Fishery," published in 

 1878, I have a fcAV observations to make. It is remarked that 

 the herring-fishery on the coast of Scotland as a whole has in- 



