214 INVESTIGATIONS IN FRITH OF CLYDE, 1888. 



in 1888; the gurnard with an average of 10, or 10 less than 

 in 1888 ; the whiting with an average of 8, an increase of two 

 per haul ; the hake with an average of 6, or three less than in 

 1888, and the lemon-dab was also diminished. Plaice^ had 

 considerably diminished, but thornbacks were nearly 3 per 

 haul. The chief feature was the proportionally large number 

 of "witches," and the larger proportion of saleable fishes in 

 contrast with unsaleable. The occurrence of the John Dory 

 and the red gurnard is also worthy of note. 



Trawling was not resumed by the " Garland " in the Clyde 

 till 1895, when 12 hauls were made in the month of November, 

 a month which, in the meagre data, stands fifth on the list of 

 8. The total number captured was 1361, or an average of 

 113, or 13 over that obtained in July, a fact which shows that 

 the area approaches the condition in the Moray Frith, and 

 diverges considerably from St Andrews Bay and other open 

 seaboards of the east. 



The witch had increased its average to 2-5 per haul, 6 more 

 than in 1890. Gurnards were more than double the number 

 in the latter year, or 24 per haul. Long-rough dabs had also 

 increased. Dabs were 1 more per haul than in 1890, but hake 

 had diminished by 4 per haul and plaice by 13 in a total of 

 41. Lemon-dabs were fewer, and so were cod and haddock, 

 both of which occurred in small numbers. Grey skate had 

 disappeared from the returns, while thornbacks had increased 

 to fully 4 per haul. A total of 9 soles were captured, and 1 

 John Dory, 1 smelt and two nurse-hounds showed the pecu- 

 liarities of the region. 



In 1896, 24 hauls of the trawl (in April 12, in October 11, 

 and in November 1) gave a total of 2902 fishes, or 120 

 per haul, an increase of 7 on the previous year. Of this 

 number 1990 or 82 per haul were saleable, and 912 or 38 

 per haul unsaleable. An increase of 10 per haul brought the 

 average of the witch to 35, the highest yet obtained. The 

 gurnard followed with 19 per haul, a decrease on the previous 

 year. The average of the long-rough dab had diminished by 



1 An elaborate research on the races of the plaice of Western Europe is now 

 being carried on by Mr H. M. Kyle, M.A., B.Sc, St Andrews. 



