SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 169 
could be carried out. Unfortunately, the whole time of a 
trawler’s limited crew is fully taken up in reaping the 
harvest from the sea, in attending to their gear, and in 
preparing the fish for market. This leaves them little 
opportunity to collect and plant fresh seed, even although 
it be practically placed in their hands. 
The results accomplished this year, again under certain 
difficulties, clearly show that eggs can be successfully 
incubated in the water of this part of the Lancashire 
coast. At times care is required in filtering the water, 
especially during a prevalence of southerly gales, when 
much mud is brought up. On the whole, the water after 
passing through the filter, is sufficiently clear. In the 
earlier part of the year ‘“‘ white felt’? was used for covering 
the filter frames, but latterly we have adopted ‘‘ Turkish 
+) 
towelling,’ which gives quite as good results, and is 
more economical. The specific gravity of the water was 
again satisfactory, and during the hatching season only 
varied from 1:0026 to 1:0027. 
Preparations are now being made for next season, and 
already a considerable number of nearly mature flounders 
have been collected and placed in the tanks for spawning 
in the spring. We have chosen the flounder or white 
fluke for work this year as being a fish that is of importance 
in the neighbourhood, is hardy in captivity, and which 
naturally spawns nearer the coast than most other flat 
fish, and is therefore the more likely to shed and fertilise 
its eggs successfully in our tanks. Mr. Ascroft gives a 
brief sketch (see p. 30) of its life-history and habits as 
known in our district, which is of interest in this connec- 
tion. 
TABLE showing number of FisH FRy set free :— 
March 21. 113,000 plaice, Morecambe Bay Light Vessel. 
,, dl. 88,960  ,, 8 miles from above ship. 
