190 INVESTIGATIONS IN MOEAY FRITH, 1889 — 1892. 



The total number of fishes was 2,421, or 134 per haul. Of this 

 1,433, or 79 per haul, were saleable, and 988, or 55 per haul, were 

 unsaleable. The year showed therefore an improvement on the 

 preceding, though the captures were still comparatively small. 



Dabs held the first place with a total of 1,337, or 72 per 

 haul, an average only once reached in the Frith of Forth, but 

 which had been doubled in St Andrews Bay. Plaice came next 

 with an average of 30, a number more characteristic of the 

 Frith of Forth than St Andrews Bay, where the average is 

 high. The other fishes were in small numbers, and indeed the 

 three examinations were not productive. For instance 17 hauls 

 in the much-trawled St Andrews Bay gave in 1886, the year in 

 which the closure was applied, 555 more fishes than the 18 did 

 in the Moray Frith. In the Ninth Report of the Fishery Board 

 it is stated that there was " an increase of flat fish and a slight 

 decrease in round fish." 



An increase on the previous year occurred at Stations II., 

 IV., y. and VI., and a diminution at I. and III. 



Six hauls in the month of September 1891 gave a total of 

 1,385 fishes, or an average of 232 per haul, a considerable im- 

 provement on 1890. Of this total 875, or 145 per haul, were 

 saleable, and 510, or 85 per haul, unsaleable. 



The increase on the previous year was mainly due to a large 

 proportion of dabs, viz. 141 per haul, and an increase of 7 per 

 haul of plaice. Haddocks had reached the average of 8 per 

 haul, the lowest in the series up to date, showing that they at 

 least either did not frequent the areas or escaped the "Gar- 

 land's" trawl. Gurnards had increased 10 per haul on the 

 previous year, and there were eight hake. 



All the stations (especially II., IV., V.) showed an increase 

 except I., where the reduction was nearly one-half on the 

 previous year. 



Six hauls in September in 1892 produced a total of 1,745 

 fishes, or 290 per haul. Of this 1,043, or 173 per haul, were 

 saleable, and 702, or 117 per haul, unsaleable. 



While in the Board's Report of the year the concluding 

 sentence of the summary is to the effect that, " It is a note- 

 worthy circumstance that although the prohibition of beam- 



