SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 175 



Soles (IV.) have much the same distribution on Area 

 A as the other fishes dealt with. The maximum catch 

 was made in August. The secondary maximum occurs in 

 March, a month earlier than that of dabs and whiting. 

 The minimum catch was made at the end of the year. 

 Three hauls were made on this ground during December, 

 in none of which were soles caught. The distribution on 

 Area B is more irregular, and no general statement can 

 be made with regard to it. 



Shrimps (Y.) have been caught at any time during the 

 year on both areas, except in one exceptional haul 

 (quoted on p. 168). It is to be noted that their distribution 

 differs somewhat from that of the foo^l fishes ; the mini- 

 mum catches were made (on both areas) in February. 

 From then the average catch rises with small variations 

 to the maximum in October. During August, September 

 and October the catches do not vary much, rising very 

 slowly. After October they fall very rapidly. 



A study of the curves representing the monthly varia- 

 tion of shrimps on the two areas shows this remarkable 

 condition : from December till the following August 

 shrimps are always more abundant on Area A than on 

 Area B ; conversely from August to November they are 

 more abundant on Area B than on Area A. That is to 

 say, during the four months, August to November, 

 shrimps are more abundant in the channels than on the 

 banks. We think it necessary, however, to state that 

 this may be due to the fact that most of the fishing is 

 carried on during these four months on Area A. 



Since all shrimp fishing, whether on Area A or B, is 

 necessarily attended by the capture of a variable number 

 of immature fish, we have thought it useful, in view of 

 the practical importance of this fact, to study the varia- 

 tion in the relative quantities of shrimps and fish caught 



