INVESTIGATIONS IN FORTH, 1894. 159 



caution is necessary. It is easy to raise hopes by new measures 

 in a struggling industry : it is less easy to allay the disappoint- 

 ment entailed by their failure. 



The haddock again outstrips all the other fishes in the 

 returns for 1894, the total being 6,681, or an average of 94 

 per haul, the third highest in the ten years' experiments. 

 Of this total, 5,841 or 82 per haul were saleable and 837 or 

 11 per haul unsaleable. Not only, therefore, was the general 

 average high, but the average of the saleable was the highest 

 in the ten years. If we compare the haddocks captured in 

 the warmer months, as given above, with the colder, the 

 average per haul in the former is 130, or a higher average 

 by 1 than obtained in the very productive months of June, 

 August and September in 1887. The five colder months give 

 an average of only 56. 



The next in regard to numbers is the dab, the total for 

 which is 3,111 or 43 per haul, a comparatively high average, 

 six over the preceding year and only five behind that of 1887 

 to which it comes next. Of these 1,903 or 26 per haul were 

 saleable and 1,208 or 17 per haul were unsaleable. Such a rise 

 is one of the vicissitudes constantly met with in the fisheries, 

 and little weight is to be attached to it further than that it 

 indicates the resources of nature. 



Plaice follow with a total of 2,624 or 36 per haul, an average 

 of only one more than last year, and three below what it was 

 in 1886. Of this number all were saleable except 53 — in this 

 respect resembling the haddock of the same season. 



Long-rough dabs had a total of 2,087 or 29 per haul, the 

 highest average attained in the period (9 years). Of these 

 only 641 or 9 per haul were saleable, whilst 1,446 or 20 per 

 haul were unsaleable. This is not a fish of much importance 

 in the market, though palatable enough, and it is of small size 

 as a rule. Other fishes prey on it to a large extent. Whitings 

 had a total of 1,746 or 24 per haul, more than double the 

 average of the previous year. Of these 1,660 or 23 per haul 

 were saleable, the majority being between 7 and 9 inches, and 

 only 14 over 14 inches, 574 being between 10 and 13 inches. 

 Only 86, or 1 per haul, were unsaleable. The numbers of the 



