SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 97 



The Committee are, no doubt, aware of the proposal by 

 the International Fisheries Bureau to impose legal size 

 limits on plaice. It is suggested that it be made illegal 

 to land plaice during the summer months less than 22 cms. 

 (nearly 9 inches) long. It seems quite possible that this 

 proposal may be adopted, and extended to the Irish Sea. 

 A summary statement given in this Report by Dr. John- 

 stone will enable the Committee to forecast the result of 

 this proposal, if adopted for our district. Applied to the 

 summer plaice fishery between Blackpool and the 

 Liverpool Bar, it will mean that : — 



76% of all the plaice caught in May must be returned to the sea, or cannot 



be landed. 

 74 ,, June ,, ,. 



70 ,, July 



62 „ Aug. 



62 „ Sept. 



53 ,, Oct. 



That is, these are the percentages of plaice on this ground 

 which, are smaller than 22 cms. (say, 8| inches). The 

 proposal, therefore, is one which will seriously aifect 

 Lancashire inshore fishermen, and should be carefully 

 considered in all its bearings. 



Plaice-Marking Experiments. 



About 1,000 plaice were marked and liberated in 

 1913, and the results are now reported upon by 

 Dr. Johnstone, assisted by Mr. T. Monaghan. The 

 results confirm those of former years, and show : (1) 

 irregular, mainly alongshore migrations into baj^s and 

 estuaries, of small plaice in winter; (2) offshore migration 

 of plaice of 7 inches long and upwards in summer months; 

 (3) inshore migration of these smaller plaice in the "back- 



