INVESTIGATIONS IN FORTH, 1887. 137 



from Dysart to Leven, viz. 616 per haul, the highest obtained 

 in the whole series. This station has both a considerable 

 variety and abundance of fishes. The next is Station III., with 

 589 or 165 above its number last year — when it headed the 

 list. The third is Station I. with 566 per haul. Then follow 

 Y., VII., IX., IV., VIII., all with a higher average than in 

 1886, while, on the other hand, VT., the short station opposite 

 St Monance and Pittenween, had 42 per haul less than in 

 1886, 



No subsequent year was on the exceptional footing of this 

 year with its three productive months. It is interesting, more- 

 over, to find that the average of the saleable fishes was ex- 

 ceeded by the previous year and by several subsequent years. 

 The unsaleable and the total were unique (highest) in the 

 series. 



So far as can be ascertained little is to be gained by a 

 comparison of the various kinds of fishes obtained in the outer 

 and in the inner stations \ The broad fact remains that this 

 year (1887) the average of the captures was very high, but, as 

 the work was carried on only in three very productive months 

 in the Forth, its bearing on the supposed increase by accumula- 

 tion and non-interference is questionable. It might be said 

 that the large number of immature fishes captured was a proof 

 that the closure had at least preserved the young forms Avafted 

 into the Forth either as eggs, larval, post-larval or very young 

 fishes. For the most part, they had complete immunity (by 

 their size) from any kind of fishing apparatus outside the limit, 

 and once inside the limit they were safe. Unfortunately, how- 

 ever, every subsequent year was in the same condition, and yet 

 no steady and permanent increase took place in the fishes of the 

 waters of the Forth. It cannot be said that eggs and larval 

 fishes were rare beyond the limit. Floating eggs in great num- 

 bers near the surface, and countless swarms of young fishes in 

 the deeper water occurred in the outer area, as in all probability 

 they had occurred for ages. The eggs and pelagic young were 

 also present around and inside the Island of May. Materials 

 for an increase were thus in abundance. 



1 Vide Sixth Annual Report, S. F. B., pp. 28, 29. 



