lxxvi 



Fifth Annual Report of the 



The new 

 ' Jackal. ' 



Migration 

 of the Loch 

 Fync Herring. 



Proposed work 

 for next year. 



Life-Histories of the Food Fishes is now ready for publication, aud 

 is illustrated by 31 quarto plates. Its size and the nature of the 

 illustrations, of course, render it unsuitable for a Parliamentary 

 Blue Book. 



The new 'Jackal' has been fitted with a deck-house, containing 

 a laboratory and sleeping cabin with three berths, and all the usual 

 fittings, so as to enable her to assist in investigating the fishing 

 grounds said to exist off the Outer Hebrides, but she is not in all 

 respects suitable for scientific work. From the West Coast many 

 representations have been received in regard to beam trawling, 

 seine and trammel net fishing, an annual weekly close time, and 

 daylight fishing, and it was remitted to Sir James Maitland and 

 Professor Ewart to inquire as to the various modes of fishing in the 

 Firth of Clyde. Their Keport has not yet been received by the 

 Board, but the question of the migration of the Loch Fyne herring 

 is intimately involved, and its solution will remove many of the 

 difficulties which at present stand in the way of regulating the 

 fishings in the estuary of the Clyde. Owing to the limited sum 

 provided for inquiries during the present year, the further investi- 

 gation of the movements of the Loch Fyne herring has been 

 temporarily suspended. 



During the present year, in addition to the trawling and other 

 inquiries in progress, the following work will be, as far as possible, 

 prosecuted : — 



1. The examination of the fishing grounds lying to the west of 

 the Lewis, within the hundred-fathom line, with a view to ascer- 

 tain whether they are likely to yield an abundant supply of useful 

 fishes. 



2. An inquiry as to the nature and abundance of the fauna 

 which live on and in the waters above the chief fishing grounds of 

 the Firth of Forth during the different months of the year, and 

 also of the surface and other forms which frequent St Andrews 

 Bay throughout the year. 



