160 INVESTIGATIONS IN FORTH, 1894 



cod exceeded those of 1893, the total being 1,152 or 16 per 

 haul, considerably over that of 1887, though less than in 1890. 

 Of this number 175 were unsaleable, that is, under 8 inches in 

 length. The total for lemon-dabs was 891, or 12 per haul, a 

 moderate number ; 97 were unsaleable. Gurnards were com- 

 paratively few, viz. 9 per haul, and a similar number (10 per 

 haul) was obtained in St Andrews Bay, where usually they are 

 more numerous than in the Forth. 



Of the nine stations five showed a diminution, viz. I. of 7 

 per haul, VI. of 41, VII. of 179, VIIL of 61, and IX. of 45; 

 while four showed an increase, viz. II. of 11, III. of 14, IV. of 

 52, and V. of no less than 202. It is noteworthy, however, 

 that no hauls were made on V. in January, nor in December, 

 and thus it was relieved of two of the non-productive months. 

 High figures for haddocks during the other months thus brought 

 the average of this station, which lies in the central channel of 

 the Forth, almost to the top of the list, for the high figure of 

 613 per haul has only once been exceeded in the series, viz. by 

 616 in 1887, at Station II. (from Dysart to Wemyss). The 

 comparison, however, is unreliable, since the work in 1887 

 was carried on only in June, August and September. Small 

 haddocks, however, in this instance also swelled the totals. 



The feature of the year was the very large proportion of 

 saleable fishes, by far the highest yet met with in the series. 

 Moreover, the fact is brought home that by omitting to work 

 on a station {e.g. from storms or otherwise) once or twice during 

 a season the comparative values are materially altered, and are 

 apt to mislead rather than assist in determining data. It would 

 have been well to have rigidly adhered as far as possible to 

 the regulation number of hauls on each station during a par- 

 ticular month. 



As formerly mentioned, little weight is placed on the com- 

 parison of the closed with the open area, either in regard to 

 round or flat fishes or totals, especially as no note is taken of 

 the particular months when work was carried on in each year. 

 The working of the trawl in 18 to 20 fathoms on board the 

 " Garland " would be different from that in shallower water, 

 and the fact that in 1886 the two areas gave such different 



