SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. 233 



captandmn. If it were openly stated that such advice was 

 given solely to permit the liners to have the freedom of the 

 inshore waters without molestation, then it could be under- 

 stood. Whatever may be the opinion on this point it is clear 

 that a period of ten years affords certain important data, 

 especially in conjunction with previous observations, carefully 

 made and free from any disturbing element. Ample time 

 has been given for the growth of the various fishes, from the 

 egg to the adult state. 



The conclusion here drawn (and the accompanying tables 

 will be useful in arriving at an opinion) differs from that in 

 the Fishery Board Reports. More especially does this differ- 

 ence affect the statement that "it appears to be fairly well 

 proved that there has been a diminution of the more important 

 flat fishes in the closed waters, instead of an increase, as was 

 anticipated, and that this may probably be traced to the 

 influence of beam-trawling in the open waters where the fishes 

 spawn." The remarks formerly made will show that a more 

 minute analysis of the statistics leads to a different conclusion 

 and one more in harmony with experience. 



It is admitted indeed in the Blue-book that no very marked 

 change has taken place in the abundance of the food-fishes in 

 the areas since the prohibition of trawling, yet the plaice and 

 lemon-dab are brought forward to support the view that a 

 "falling off" has occurred. It is the last earthwork in the 

 defence, and seeing that the conditions of the two periods are 

 dissimilar, it lacks that reliability which is indispensable in 

 matters so important. It has already been dealt with on 

 pp. 125 — 128, and it need only be pointed out here that, by an 

 oversight, it is stated^ that the information concerning the 

 spawning-grounds of the plaice and lemon-dab was due to the 

 work of the " Garland," but long before the experiments had 

 commenced the spawning-places of both had been determined, 

 viz. during the work for the Trawling Commission in 1884. 



The efficacy of a 3 or a 13-mile limit in promoting the 

 increase of the food-fishes is open to doubt. In the first place 

 the food-fishes follow no hard and fast line of distribution so as 



1 e.g. 10th Annual Report S. F. B., p. 12, and subsequently. 



