INVESTIGATIONS IN MORAY FRITH, 1893 AND 1894. 193 



Twenty hauls took place in May and October on the 

 outer stations (VII. to XVI.), resulting in a total of 4,760 

 fishes, or 238 per haul. Of this number 2,445, or 122 per 

 haul, were saleable, and 2,315, or 115 per haul, unsaleable. 



A considerable divergence in the fish-fauna of these 

 outer stations is at once apparent, and it would have been 

 well if the Blue-book had devoted some of its energies to 

 this feature. Instead of an average of 117 plaice per haul, 

 the average was only 7, but they were all of the larger size, 

 viz., from 12 to 19 inches. The trawl had got rid of the 

 swarms of young plaice, so characteristic of the shallower 

 water. The ubiquitous dab was in less numbers than in 

 the inshore stations, but still held a good position with an 

 average of 69 per haul. Moreover, there was an absence of 

 the line of demarcation as in the plaice, for considerable 

 numbers of the unsaleable and smaller saleable sizes were 

 present. Lemon-dabs were about three times as numerous. 

 Long-rough dabs were more than twice as numerous. One 

 of the greatest contrasts, however, was in the haddocks, 

 which had an average of 31 per haul in the first six stations, 

 and one of 97 in the outer (VII. to XVI.). Cod were also 

 more numerous, and the general distribution of the gurnard 

 was indicated by a higher average (28). 



The foregoing captures of the " Garland " in the Moray 

 Frith are, at best, but poor in contrast with the 800 or 900 

 fishes secured each haul by the commercial trawler. 



The same number of hauls (12), as in 1893, on the six 

 inner stations in July and October, 1894, gave a total of 

 3,018 fishes, or 251 per haul, a result falling short, by 68, 

 of the average per haul of the previous year, one of the 

 usual uncertainties of the pursuit. 



Almost all the fishes were reduced in numbers except 

 lemon-dabs, the total for which was double that of the previous 

 year, though still small (74). Plaice were 94 per haul, just 

 one above the condition in 1887, not an encouraging feature 

 in connection with the closure of the "extensive spawning- 

 grounds." Dabs were still comparatively abundant (113 per 

 haul), though 18 under the previous year ; their high numbers in 

 M. R. 13 



