124 INVESTIGATIONS IN ST ANDREWS BAY, 1895. 



a notable increase on the previous year was evident, and on 

 Station IV. the number exceeded all except those of 1887 and 

 1890, the two highest in the series. Plaice showed a large 

 increase per haul on the previous year, while dabs were more 

 than doubled. It is quite legitimate to draw attention to the 

 increase in such forms in St Andrews Bay in connection with 

 the supposed influence of the closure in the Forth. There it is 

 stated that an increase occurred in the protected area, and a 

 diminution in the open area. But St Andrews Bay draws its 

 supplies of eggs in the case of plaice from the open area, and 

 should have suffered equally, which it did not. Lemon-dabs 

 were four times as numerous, long-rough dabs were less (17 to 

 12, total numbers), while flounders had considerably increased 

 on the preceding number (total 89 to 140). Of round fishes, 

 cod were only 12 as compared with 17 in 1894. Haddocks 

 were 15 per haul instead of 21, whitings were only 38 instead 

 of 85, but gurnards showed the high average of 44 per haul, 

 the second highest in the series, the highest beiug in 1887 

 with 49 per haul. As some of the numbers, e.g. cod, were 

 small, these remarks are of limited value, but they show that 

 the increase was chiefly in dabs and gurnards, fishes of secondary 

 importance. 



The three hauls on Station VI. produced 679 fishes or 226 

 per haul, the second highest number in the four years. The 

 unprotected waters did not therefore give evidence of progressive 

 deterioration from over-fishing. 



In glancing at the results as shown in the averages of the 

 various stations during the 10 years it would not seem that 

 they point to a gradual accumulation of fishes due to the 

 protection afforded by the closure. The higher numbers are 

 succeeded by the smaller in such a way as to remove doubt 

 on this point. Moreover, if they (higher figures) have a 

 connection with anything it is with the warmer months of 

 the year, that is, with the preponderance of these during 

 the working period. This feature has been overlooked in 

 the review of the 10 years' w^ork\ for instance, in contrasting 

 the years 1887 and 1892 as illustrating the marked fluctua- 

 1 Uth Report 8. F. B. p. 135. 



