INVESTIGATIONS IN MORAY FRITH, 1897. 203 



average of 238, or 21 higher than in 1897. The lowest average 

 occurs in 1895. There is nothing, however, in these totals to 

 indicate any effect of the closure, or other feature than the 

 ordinary irregularities of the pursuit. 



The hauls throughout the quinquennial period were fairly 

 distributed over the six months from May to November, except 

 that more than double the number of any other month occurred 

 in October. A very different average would have resulted if 

 such had not been the case, for the average exceeds by 61 that 

 of any other month. It is followed by that of November at 

 282, only 61 less, then July with 211, May 182, August 176, 

 and June 130. There is thus, so far as the individual months 

 go, a parallelism between the total monthly averages of the 

 inner and the outer stations of the Moray Frith. 



The study of the yearly averages of the outer stations gives 

 no sign of accumulation, but tends to corroborate the opinion 

 that man's influence in the way of closure is immaterial. 



The fact that the dab holds even a more conspicuous position 

 than in 1896 again emphasizes the nature of the "Garland's" 

 work, which materially differs from that of a commercial trawler. 

 The average per haul is 128 or 34 more than the previous year, 

 and it is the maximum number for the quinquennial period, 

 and is nearly double the average of 1893. The capture of dabs 

 in the Moray Frith seems to be characteristic of October, and 

 as this month held a prominent position, the abundance of dabs 

 is a consequence. 



The next average, viz. 26, that of the long-rough dab, is 

 separated by a wide interval. It is more than double that of 

 1893, yet it is the next lowest in the quinquennial period, and 

 is exactly the average for the latter, viz. 26. 



The gurnard follows with an average of 20 per haul, the lowest 

 of the series. The average for the quinquennial period is 28. 



This year seems to have been, for the " Garland," an unfor- 

 tunate one for haddocks, only 17 per haul having been procured, 

 a condition of things probably due to some extent to the months 

 during which operations were carried on, viz. June and November, 

 for the maximum number of haddocks occurs in October \ 



1 It may be that the handling of the ship in regard to tides and other 

 factors in efficiency had a share in this result. 



