144 INVESTIGATIONS IN FORTH, 1890. 



The maximum thus occurred in July, three months earlier 

 than in the whiting, and the Stations V., VI. and VII. at the 

 entrance to the Forth seemed to have been most productive. 

 It is possible that the series under 8 inches beginning in 

 August are those of the jesir, since we know with certainty 

 that some reach 7J inches in November. Out of a total of 85 

 large haddocks captured this season, 52 were obtained subse- 

 quent to the spawning-period, viz., from July to December. 

 This proves that the 33 captured earlier in the season did not 

 deplete the waters of the area of spawning fishes. It is probable 

 indeed that some at least of the 33 had also shed part of their 

 eggs, and as the adult may contain from 170,000 to 2,000,000 

 eggs, the number may have been considerable. But no account 

 has been taken of the 761 between 10 and 14 inches, a propor- 

 tion of which, especially amongst the males, between 12 and 14 

 inches had arrived at maturity. Besides those captured by the 

 " Garland " or other means in the Forth, a large reserve-margin 

 must have escaped. Thus, in whatever way we look at the 

 question, there is no reason to suppose that we have reached a 

 dangerous condition in regard to our marine fisheries — as a 

 certain class maintain. A little more trust in Nature, and less 

 in " friends," or in help from the Government, would not be for 

 the disadvantage of the department. 



Plaice come next in order with a total of 2,437 or 30 per 

 haul, a result below what it was in 1886 by 9, but the latter 

 period differed as regards the proportion of productive months. 

 2,422 were saleable and only 15 unsaleable, so that practically 

 the plaice were nearly all marketable. In contrasting the 

 captures of this fish in the Forth with those in St Andrews 

 Bay in March, May, August, October and December of the 

 same year, it is found that the following condition, as shown in 

 the table, occurs : — 



