lxxiv 



Fifth Annual Report of the 



the fact that the takes in most districts were meagre, while the 

 fish in the inshore waters were either of a medium or small size. 

 Another table (D) shows the number of haddocks, whiting, and 

 cod landed at one of the fishing stations (Buckhaven) in the Forth 

 district during the several months of the years 1884 to 1887. From 

 this table it appears that the Firth of Forth serves as a nursery and 

 feeding ground for young haddocks and whiting, and that during 

 1886 a larger number of young fish sought the shelter of the Forth 

 than in previous years. In addition to the above statistics, there 

 are tables showing the daily take of a number of East Coast fishing 

 boats during the months of December (1886) and the months of 

 January, February, and March (1887). In table G the amount of 

 fish taken by beam trawlers may be compared with those taken by 

 the net and line fishermen at the principal fishing stations between 

 Newhaven and Aberdeen. Table H shows that the fish landed in 

 the Leith district have increased since trawling has been conducted 

 solely without the closed area of the Firth of Forth. 



The evidence already collected seems to indicate that, by re- 

 gulating trawling in the territorial waters, they will in course of 

 time yield more mature fish, and serve as nurseries and feeding 

 grounds during certain months of the year for shoals of herring, 

 haddock, cod, and other valuable fish. 



During August the ' Garland ' was engaged for some weeks in 

 the Moray Firth, partly in physical work and partly in making 

 observations with a view to determining whether the trawling 

 experiments might be extended so as to include certain portions of 

 the Moray Firth. 



After the visit of the ' Garland ' to the Moray Firth, it was con- 

 sidered that valuable scientific results might be obtained were 

 beam trawling restricted in that district, and the following bye-law 

 was made, which, if confirmed by the Secretary for Scotland, will 

 take effect on and after 4th July next 



I. This bye-law shall extend and apply to that part of the sea inside of 



a line drawn from the Ord of Caithness along the coast at a dis- 

 tance of three miles to a point opposite Brora ; thence to Tarbet 

 Ness Lighthouse ; thence along the coast at a distance of three 

 miles to a point opposite Ballintore ; thence to a point a mile west 

 of the mouth of the Findhorn River ; and thence along the coast 

 at a distance of three miles to a point due north (magnetic) from 

 Kinnaird Head Lighthouse. 



II. Within the aforesaid limits, no person, unless in the service of the 



Fishery Board for Scotland, shall, at any time from the date when 

 this bye-law comes into force, use any beam trawl for taking sea 

 fish ; and the master or the person actually in command of any 

 vessel acting in contravention of this bye-law shall, on conviction, 

 be liable to a fine not exceeding .£100 ; and failing immediate 

 payment of the fine, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 

 sixty days, without prejudice to diligence by poinding or imprison- 

 ment, if no imprisonment has followed on the conviction — all in 

 terms of the said Act. 

 III. This bye-law shall come into force on Monday the 4th of July next. 



The migration of flat fish in St Andrews Bay rendered it ex- 

 tremely desirable to slightly increase the closed area. It was 

 decided to alter the present bye-law as follows : — 



