sea fisheries laboratory. 85 



The Distribution of Immature and other Fish. 



The statistics, in regard to size, number, &c, of fish, 

 taken by Mr. Dawson on the s.s. " John Fell " have been 

 carefully analysed by us, with the results given in the 

 following pages. "We are of opinion, however, that the 

 observations have not yet been continued for a sufficient 

 length of time to enable us to come to definite conclusions 

 in regard to the migrations of fishes during the year in 

 our district. 



An area at Blackpool, about 10 miles long, was closed 

 two years and a half ago against trawling because it was 

 known to be a "nursery" for young food fishes, and 

 in order to see what the effect would be on the numbers 

 of young fish. On comparison with other grounds it 

 seems to us now there are far more immature fish (chiefly 

 Plaice and Dabs) on it than elsewhere. The following list 

 gives the average number of fish taken in each month with 

 the shrimp trawl on the Blackpool closed ground. 



1892. 



1893. 



These 



September to December the young fish congregate in large 

 numbers, so that one haul may take thousands, on this 

 ground; while for some reason from January or February 

 to August (which period covers the spawning season) the 

 numbers are comparatively few, say on an average 500 or 

 600 per haul. The smallest numbers are in May and 

 June. The number of fish taken on this ground seems 

 steadily increasing since it has been closed. The largest 



August 



270 





1893. May 101 



September 



712 





June 122 



October 



1658 





July 385 



November 



1984 





August 437 



December 



2471 





September 14892 



January 



134 





(Of these 11000 were Dabs.) 



February 



1199 





October 



March 



636 





November 2536 



April 



302 





December 13055 



seem to 



show ttu 



it 



during the months fr 



