120 INVESTIGATIONS IN ST ANDREWS BAY, 1893. 



in 1891 to 356 in 1892, and gurnards from 449 in 1891 to 

 1,096 in 1892. Ttie numbers of the turbot, soles, brill and 

 lemon-dabs showed no special feature, certainly no marked 

 increase. 



In connection with the diminution in the average catch of 

 1892, it has to be borne in mind that four cold months, viz., 

 February, March, November and December are included. The 

 average captures during these are much less than in the four 

 warmer months of April, May, June and Octobei'. 



Thirty hauls of the trawl were made in 1893, and the results 

 were not more encouraging in regard to numbers than the 

 previous year. If it were possible that the fishes gradually 

 became from year to year more wary of a constant danger, as 

 in the case of land-animals, such as grouse, for instance, the 

 gradually diminishing totals might have an explanation. Yet 

 though this may not have been the only factor, for the larger 

 forms were also in all probability fewer, it is possible that it 

 was one of them — both in the inshore and offshore waters. 

 The total was no less than 839 under that of the previous year, 

 grouped as 2713 saleable, and 1405 unsaleable fishes. The 

 average number of saleable fishes in each haul was 90, and of 

 unsaleable 46, the former average therefore being considerably 

 over that of the previous year (which was 67), though both 

 were comparatively small numbers. On the other hand, the 

 average for the unsaleable was 10 below that in 1892. In 

 regard to the various stations there was a continuance of the 

 diminution on Station I. (125 to 102), an increase from 77 to 

 111 on Station IL, a diminution on Station III. (from 152 to 

 115), a great increase on Station TV. (159 to 265), a diminution 

 on Station V. (105 to 93), and a diminution on Station VI. 

 (532 to 279). 



In the Twelfth Annual Report (1893) there was said to be 

 a slight increase in the general average of fishes captured this 

 year, the increase being chiefly in flat fishes, and taking the 

 two most important flat fishes, viz., plaice and dabs, for the 

 numbers of the others are insignificant, during the three years 

 1891, 1892 and 1893 the following result appears: — 



