CHAPTER IV. 



Scientific Investigations in the Frith of Forth. 

 1886—1896. 



Tables YIII. to XII. 



The area of the Forth, which comprises 250 nautical square 

 miles, differs in a marked manner from the open sandy bay of 

 St Andrews, both in regard to the nature of the bottom and 

 the depth of water. These distinctions are clearly set forth in 

 the Fifth Annual Report of the Fishery Board ^ in the descrip- 

 tion of the nine trawling stations of this area, the salient 

 features in contrast with St Andrews being the frequent occur- 

 rence of mud, stones and shells as well as sand, with such forms 

 as oysters, mussels, clams and Norway-lobsters. The depth, 

 moreover, ranges from 10 to 20 fathoms. Though much marine 

 zoological work has been done for generations in the Forth, the 

 precise condition of its fish-fauna just before the closure was 

 less accurately known than that of St Andrews Bay, mainly 

 because the trawling ships chiefly worked beyond its limits. 

 It is true that the otter-trawl was used in 1858, and probably 

 earlier, on the sandy flats, mainly for scientific purposes, but no 

 accurate records of the captures are available for comparison. 

 Accordingly, the first season's work of the "Garland" (in 1886), 

 with such supplementary evidence of a reliable kind as exists, 

 forms the chief guide in dealing with the area. 



The first season's work in the Forth commenced in June, 



1 pp. 52—54. 



