INVESTIGATIONS IN FORTH, 1888. 139 



proportions during the various months, though of course in 

 diminished numbers. Next were dabs at 1,244, or 24 per haul 

 — exactly half the number per haul when contrasted with the 

 previous year. They followed the plaice in regard to the 

 months, though the highest number occurred in September 

 instead of in August. The fall was less striking in November 

 and December, but it was likewise present. A large proportion 

 of the dabs were unsaleable. The total number of lemon-dabs 

 was 888 or 17 per haul — no less than 80 per haul below 1887 ; 

 long-rough dabs had a total of 688. Cod aud gurnards were 

 fewer than the previous year. 



In contrast with 1887, the stations throughout showed a 

 reduced number of food-fishes in the average per haul, the first 

 and third having only about half the number. The first two 

 had about the same average as in 1886, while the third had 

 little more than half that of 1886. The fourth and fifth were 

 not very different from what they were in 1886. The sixth 

 was less by more than half, the seventh, eighth and ninth had 

 considerably increased. 



This year eight hauls by an ordinary steam- trawler^ were 

 made by the Board in the Forth at the beginning of February 

 as a check on the work of the " Garland," but no systematic 

 treatment of the results is given in the Blue-book. It is simply 

 stated that the main results corresponded with those obtained 

 by the " Garland." It is unfortunate that an accurate table of 

 each of these hauls was not preserved. 



The lesson learned from this year (1888) was not a striking 

 one, but it brought out the uncertainties of fishing operations 

 (mainly perhaps due, in this case to stormy weather), and 

 showed the greater variety in the commercial captures of the 

 Forth as contrasted with St Andrews Bay. The various kinds 

 of skate were scattered generally over the area, and such forms 

 as the cat-fish (wolf-fish), green cod, herring, witch (pole-dab) and 

 pollack, were perhaps more characteristic of the Forth. The 

 conger, ling, sprat and halibut were sparse in both, while the 

 haddock, whiting and cod were in greater numbers in the Forth. 



Further increase of the number of the hauls took place in 

 1 The "Ocean Rover" belonging to Mr Gunn, of Leith. 



