122 INVESTIGATIONS IN ST ANDREWS BAY, 1894. 



The total number of fishes captured in two hauls at 

 Station VI. was 279, about half the number of the previous 

 year, but the average was higher, viz. 139, or six more than in 

 1892. The average in both years was thus above the average 

 of the closed area, which does not seem to point to the 

 conclusion that the outer waters had suffered by non-pro- 

 tection. 



During the year 1894 twenty hauls of the trawl were made 

 in St Andrews Bay, viz. six in February, April, September and 

 December respectively, each of the stations having been 

 examined four times. The total number of fishes including 

 the additional four hauls at Station YI. was 4238 or 2575 less 

 than in 1888, with one haul more (or 25). The area, more- 

 over, from which the fishes were drawn was considerably larger, 

 for while there were only five stations in 1888, there were six 

 in 1894. If the five regular stations only are dealt with, the 

 total number was 3500, or 175 per haul, a considerable increase 

 on the previous year. The average number of fishes per haul 

 was for the saleable 138, and unsaleable 36, numbers which 

 likewise contrast with those of 1888, the average in which was 

 248 for saleable, and 23 for unsaleable. The total number was 

 under that of the previous year though differently apportioned, 

 the average for the saleable being considerably larger, the 

 unsaleable being 668 less. In every stage, therefore, the un- 

 certainty attending these operations was demonstrated. Thus 

 more fishes were captured on Stations I. and II. than in the 

 three previous years. A slight increase on the previous year 

 occurred at Station III., yet it did not bring it up to the 

 captures in 1886. The numbers on Station IV. were only a 

 little more than in 1893, viz. 287 to 265. On Station V. there 

 was an increase of 63, while on Station VI. the average was 

 45 more than in the previous year, a fact not in consonance 

 with the supposed depletion of the outer (unprotected) 

 waters. 



The average per haul, over the whole of the stations, for 

 plaice was 48 and for dabs 64, a diminution of the former by 8 

 and an increase in the latter of 37, or more than double that 

 of the previous year, the numbers of the latter fish raising the 



