122 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



autumn (1) by fishing-out, (2) by the migration into 

 deeper waters off-shore to the South and West of the 

 larger fish, and (3) by an along-shore migration of the 

 smaller fish during the autumn and early winter. It will 

 be seen that we have a bi-modal curve during March (as 

 in the case of Barrow Channel and Fleetwood Channel in 

 January and February), indicating extensive changes in 

 the plaice population. Thereafter the modal sizes show 

 little or no significant change, though perhaps there is a 

 slight increase due to the growth of the fish. The 

 frequencies also show little significant change; the pro- 

 portion of fish at and over 8 inches in length varies from 

 about 30 per cent, to TO per cent., being greatest in July. 

 The statistics are not, however, extensive enough to enable 

 one to discuss this point further. 



Fishing Grounds off the Estuaries of the Mersey and Dee. 



These grounds are the most interesting of the 

 Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries area, since it is 

 here that we find the "fish-nursery" in its most typical 

 form. Fortunately we have a fairly complete series of 

 statistics, thanks to the conscientious work of Captain 

 Eccles, the Bailiff in charge of the sub-district. I do 

 not mean to say that the information is all that is 

 desirable, but the data at our disposal are very instructive. 

 The Mersey area is really one of the most diversified in 

 the whole Irish Sea, that is from the point of view of its 

 fisheries. It includes large tracts of shallow water, on 

 the margins of the channels and banks, suitable in every 

 respect for the nurture of young fishes. These shallow 

 waters form a very productive shrimping area. There is 

 comparatively deep water (from the in-shore fishery point 

 of view) in the outer channels; and there are "rough" 

 bottoms, some of which are prawning areas and exhibit 



