INVESTIGATIONS IN MORAY FRITH, 1884. 187 



locality \ Whitings were much less numerous than off the 

 Forth, though large, and ling were more frequent. Plaice were 

 in considerable numbers and large, viz. 64 per haul, and the 

 majority had yet to complete spawning. Dabs were not 

 numerous, only 14 being present in each haul. Lemon-dabs 

 were common, no less than an average of 50 occurring in each 

 haul. Pole-dabs or "witches " were very few in this part of the 

 Frith. Gurnards were plentiful and all of a saleable size, the 

 average per haul being 116, a high figure. The wolf-fishes were 

 also in considerable numbers, viz. 9 per haul. 



The main features, therefore, of the fish-fauna of the region 

 were the numbers of large haddocks, cod, plaice, and gurnards. 

 These data are reliable for the season, and are in a different 

 category from the vague and unsatisfactory, though reiterated 

 remarks often produced for comparison of a particular area with 

 the conditions at the present day. Moreover, it is well-known 

 that the trawling-ships eagerly frequented the Moray Frith to 

 the last moment, and that to-day all would return if it were 

 possible. 



The work of the " Garland " in the Moray Frith commenced 

 in August 1887, fully three years after the preceding observa- 

 tions. Six stations were chosen close inshore as follows: — 



I. Off Burghead Bay, length 7 miles, 6 — 7 fathoms, sand. 



II. Off Nairn, length 8 miles, 9 — 12 fathoms, mud. 



III. In Cromarty Frith, length 4 miles, 3 — 7 fathoms, sand. 



IV. This and the succeeding lie in Dornoch Frith. 

 Parallel to shore for 5 miles, 7 — 9 fathoms, mud and sand. 



V. Further out, length 8 miles, 11 — 15 fathoms, mud and 

 sand. 



VI. South of v., length 5 miles, 10 — 15 fathoms, sand. 

 Each station was trawled over once in the latter part of 



August, and the total result was 1,567 fishes, or 261 per haul. 

 Of this number 600, or 100 per haul, were saleable, and 967, or 



1 The note of 8th April, 1884, states that a few of the haddocks might have 

 been counted among the " small " of the Forth, but at the same time they 

 would have been indifferently placed in either group. This shows that the 

 haddocks here are more uniformly large. There are, however, comparatively 

 few very large. 



