INVESTIGATIONS IN ST ANDREWS BAY, 1890. Il7 



to 137, and at Station II. a diminution as 181 (1889) to 188— 

 a comparatively limited increase. The decrease at Stations 

 III. and IV. was respectively 84 and 45 on the total. It is 

 interesting, however, to find that Stations III. and IV. united 

 gave for the two years a considerably higher figure than I. and 

 IL, viz. 813 to 683. 



This year the Herring Fishery Act came into operation, 

 and the whole coast within the three-mile limit was closed. 



During 1890 the hauls of the " Garland's " trawls were 30 in 

 number, made during the months of March, May, August, 

 October, and December. They produced 6,395 saleable fishes, 

 or 213 per haul, and 2,273 (75 per haul) unsaleable, or a total 

 of 8,668. There was therefore a decided increase on the pre- 

 vious year, both with regard to saleable and unsaleable fishes. 

 This increase was chiefly during the warmer months, viz.. May 

 and August, and consisted for the most part of 3,472 small 

 plaice from 7 to 11 J inches, and of 1,039 dabs of the same 

 dimensions. On Station I. an increase of 9 fishes per haul 

 occurred as compared with the previous year, while on Station 

 II. there was a diminution of 3. An increase of 58 took 

 place at Station III., while at Station IV. the large average 

 of 721 was present — nearly double what it was in 1887. On 

 the other hand, the diminution at Station Y. was so great 

 as to make the result about a third of what it was the 

 previous year, and not half what it was in 1886. The uncer- 

 tainty attending fishing operations was thus illustrated. There 

 is a slight discrepancy, again, between these figures and the 

 remark in the Report that "In this area there was a general 

 increase in the total catch of fish at all stations except Station 

 II., where there was a slight decrease." 



Of the other features of the table the small number of the 

 turbot (3), haddocks (45), lemon-dabs (9), long-rough dabs (22), 

 and soles (1) is noteworthy, as indicating no tendency to increase 

 or accumulate in the closed area. The reporter truly says that 

 a special feature of this year was the augmentation of the 

 whitings (388), which was due, he thought, to the vast shoal of 

 young in the inshore waters in 1889. Such accumulations, 

 however, take place frequently in their season, for though in 



