FISHERY IMPROVEMENT IN JERSEY. 79 



regard to special local needs and circumstances, as our coast line is 

 governed by exceedingly complex conditions. One of the special 

 duties of the officers of a Fishery Committee is obviously to make a 

 careful survey of their whole area to determine the spawning grounds 

 and nurseries, i.e., grounds frequented by immature fish, and, when 

 determined, to take measures to protect such efficiently. Such a ground 

 was discovered on the Lancashire coast opposite Blackpool, and the 

 utility of such a regulation is demonstrated by quotation of the results 

 of three typical hauls of a shrimp trawl on this ground, also given by 

 Mr. Dawson. 



November 7th, 1893:— 



5^ quarts of shrimps 

 6,117 flat fish 



81 round fish \ The trawl was fishing 



30 minutes. 



6,198 



December 28th, 1893 :— 



22^ quarts of shrimps 

 20,772 flat fish 



117 round fish > The trawl was fishing 



1 



20,889 

 January 2nd, 1894 : — 



i 



40 minutes. 



6 quarts of shrimps 

 8,356 flat fish 



1 56 round fish > The trawl was fishing 



45 minutes* 



8,512 



" The flat fish taken in these hauls comprised soles, plaice, and 

 dabs ; the round fish, whiting, codling and herrings ; these were all 

 immature and undersized, ranging from about 1 to 3 inches in length 

 and of no use whatever for market. When it is considered that from 

 70 to 90 boats used to be employed shrimping on that particular ground, 

 each boat making from four to five hauls per tide, it will not be wondered 

 at that the Committee closed it, nor can it be denied that such must be of 

 immense benefit in the protection of under- sized sea-fish." 



The Scientific Department's work is of necessity less showy in imme- 

 diately practical results, though it must be borne in mind that the 

 labours of this Department are indispensable in arriving at a knowledge 

 of the factors that have to be understood before the framing of adminis- 

 trative bye-laws. The general scope of this Department's work may be 

 summarised as the investigation of the food and feeding habits of fish, 

 their spawning habits and early history ; the controlling conditions and 

 localities of their migrations ; experiments with a view to the introduction 

 of oyster and mussel culture or of improved methods ; investigation into 

 the connection between oysters and the transmission of disease, the 



