SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 



807 



obtained by each kind of bait were carefully noted. The 

 following table is an abstract of the results obtained at 

 fourteen stations where lugworms, clams (Pecten oper- 

 culars), mussels and limpets were used together. The 

 experiments extended from August 30th to December 

 26th, 1888. 



Bait. 



No. op 

 Hooks. 



FISH CAUGHT. 



Haddock Cod. Whiting Dab. Total. 

 No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 



Lugworm 

 Clam 



Mussel.... 

 Limpet... 



3500 

 3960 

 4540 

 3320 



8-3 

 8-3 

 10-5 

 4-3 



Including four plaice. 



From the table it is seen that Arenicola is the most 

 successful bait for flat-fish, that it is about equal to 

 mussel for attracting whiting, but mussel is superior for 

 cod and haddock. Comparing Arenicola and Pecten it is 

 seen that the former is rather more effective as a bait for 

 flat-fish and whiting, but the latter for haddocks, while 

 they are equal in their catch of cod. These two baits are 

 practically equal in value. Limpets are inferior to each 

 of the other three baits. It may be stated here that flat- 

 fish are not plentiful in the Firth of Forth. In the above 

 described experiments they form only one- seventh of the 

 catch while haddocks form more than half. 



Haddocks form the majority of fish taken by the line 

 fishermen of Musselburgh, and other places on the Firth 

 of Forth. These men, who work over the same area as 

 that in which the above-named experiments were con- 



