SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 111 
last year that cannot wait till a more convenient time. It may 
be worth while to note, however, that the duration of the 
spawning period of any species of fish can be fixed only approxi- 
mately from the occurrence of the eggs in the plankton. 
Actual periodic examination of the condition of the fish should 
also be made when possible. For imstance, our records from 
examination of plankton samples show that sprat eggs may 
be found floating at the surface of the sea from the beginning 
of April till the middle of September ; while the examination 
of the sprats collected durmg the winter fishery at Morecambe 
indicates that spawning may take place very early in March. 
TV. MoreEcAMBE WINTER SPRAT FISHERY. 
This fishery is practically a new one. It is only some 
three years since its value began to be recognised by the 
fishermen and its development attempted. Much of the credit 
for the success that has attended its gradual progress is due 
to one of the local men. He was amongst the first to recognise 
the economic possibilities and visited various sprat and 
“ whitebait” fisheries on the east coast in order to inspect 
the methods employed in catching the fish. He also endeavoured 
to find markets for the Morecambe fish and was fairly successful. 
Previous to the war good prices were obtained for the smaller 
fish which were sold in the London markets as ‘‘ whitebait,” 
but this trade has almost ceased now. There is a pretty steady 
demand for the fish elsewhere in connection with preserving 
purposes, and considerable quantities of fresh Morecambe 
sprats are sold in the fishmongers’ shops in Lancashire. The 
number of half-decked and open fishing boats engaged 
in the fishery is gradually increasing. As many as twenty-five 
boats were employed in one day during the maximum of 
the 1915-16 fishery. 
The method introduced into Morecambe for catching 
