SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY, 217 



Certain physical and biological conditions, which we 

 only imperfectly understand, render Luce Bay a favourite 

 ground for plaice. It has now been closed for about 

 14 years, while the inshore waters of the Lancashire and 

 Western Sea Fisheries District, where plaice are relatively 

 abundant, are open to trawling sailing vessels, under 

 certain restrictions. A comparison between these two 

 areas is, therefore, of some interest. 



The first visit to Luce Bay was made on October 18th 

 and 19th. We left Fleetwood on the evening of the 17th 

 and arrived in the Bay early in the morning of the 18th. 

 During the passage from Piel Gas Buoy to Point of 

 Ayre, and from the latter point to Mull of Galloway, a 

 number of "drift bottles,'' which had previously been 

 prepared, were liberated at intervals of about a mile by 

 Mr. Scott. The object of these experiments was to 

 obtain further information with regard to the surface 

 drift of the sea-water in the northern part of the Irish Sea. 

 A number were also set free in the centre of the Bay. 

 25 per cent, of the cards have already been returned, and 

 it is interesting to note that none of these had gone outside 

 of Luce Bay. 



Trawling was commenced about 7 a.m. on the 

 morning of the 18th. At the suggestion of Captain 

 Wignall one haul was made with a shrimp net of |-inch 

 mesh in the shallow water in the northern part of the 

 Bay. The object of this haul was to determine whether, 

 as the Captain considered was likely to be the case, small 

 plaice were abundant in this area. The net was hauled 

 for about an hour and a quarter and the results of the 

 drag are given in the following table : — 



