SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 127 



It will be seen that there is a notable difference 

 between the sizes of plaice taken in the 6-inch trawl net 

 when worked in Rock Channel and the closely adjacent 

 shallow waters, and in the deeper water in the outer 

 channels. In the former area the 6-inch trawl mesh 

 undoubtedly catches a fairly large proportion of small 

 plaice of comparatively little marketable value. In the 

 deeper water off-shore this proportion of small plaice is 

 much less, and may be neglected. I see no reason why 

 a 6-inch trawl-mesh should not be regarded as a reason- 

 able instrument of capture. It may be urged that it is 

 a destructive engine in shallow waters such as those in 

 the Rock Channel ; but I do not think we have evidence 

 enough to justify us in preventing its use if the fishermen 

 should strongly desire it. I will, however, return to this 

 point later on. 



The Beaumaris and Red Wharf Bay Area. 



The fishing grounds West from the estuary of the 

 Dee are characterised by a plaice population in which the 

 fish are considerably larger than in the shallow waters 

 off the coasts of Lancashire and Cheshire. The fishery 

 on these grounds is an autumn or early winter one. 

 Sometimes the bulk of the plaice are taken near Colwyn 

 Bay, as during the winter before last ; but in other years 

 large quantities of plaice are taken in Red Wharf and 

 Beaumaris Bays. In the later months of 1907 and the 

 beginning of 1908 there was a very profitable plaice 

 fishery in Red Wharf Bay. At the end of 1908 the fish 

 were most abundant, and were largest, off Colwyn; and 

 at the end of 1909 the biggest catches, and the largest- 

 plaice, were obtained from the fishery grounds immedi- 

 ately round Great Orme's Head and in Beaumaris Bay. 

 At the very end of the year large plaice began to be 



