SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 137 



REPORT ON THE TOW-NETTINGS. 

 By Andrew Scott. 



The collections of pelagic organisms taken by tow-net 

 in various parts of the Irish Sea in 1906 number four 

 hundred. The results from the examination of the 

 material are given in the monthly tables (see below). 

 Although the tables represent the organisms that were 

 present from month to month in particular areas, it does 

 not necessarily follow that they were always in evidence 

 every time a collection was made. Again, the number of 

 records for any station depends largely on the frequency 

 of the fishing. A comparison of the tables given in last 

 year's Report shows that Cardigan Bay had a greater 

 variety of free swimming animals than any other area. 

 The number of tow-nettings taken there represented more 

 than one every week, and practically amounted to five 

 each month. The area is a large one, and collections were 

 made in the vicinity of New Quay and Pwllheli by the 

 fishery officers stationed at these places. Then at intervals 

 the fisheries steamer took tow-nettings in various parts of 

 the territorial waters of the bay. This area, therefore, 

 was fairly well investigated in 1906, and the results were 

 naturally high. Another thing to be remembered is that 

 distribution is rarely uniform. Some organisms may be 

 extremely abundant at one spot, and yet at another, 

 perhaps only a few miles away, are conspicuous by their 

 absence. 



During the year 1906, we derived a good deal of fresh 

 information from the tow-nettings relating to the occur- 

 rence of various important organisms. Owing to various 



