52 



Appendices to Fifth Annual Report 



about the Isle of May. Sufficient progress has not yet been made with 

 the examination of the St Andrews Bay to admit of its being considered 

 in the present report. 



Description of the Trawling Stations. 



As already stated, we selected for special observation nine of the 

 more important fishing grounds in the Firth of Forth, seven within 

 and two beyond, the boundary given in the bye-law. The position 

 of the various stations will be best understood by referring to the chart, 

 Plate I. 



Station /., known as the Roost among the fishermen, begins one mile to 

 the east of Inchkeith, and extends in an easterly direction for six and a 

 half miles. 



The bottom in this area is almost entirely composed of mud, but in the 

 vicinity of Inchkeith there are stones and shells. The depth varies from 

 10 to 18 fathoms. 



All the common food fishes are caught here in tolerable abundance, 

 the common dab, haddock, and plaice being the most plentiful. 



The mud of the bottom is rich in lob-worms, and the hard ground near 

 Inchkeith is peopled with mussels, clams, starfish, Crustacea (including 

 several species of crabs), and other invertebrates. The water over this 

 station at certain seasons teems with pelagic forms, such as Sagitta and 

 Tomopteris — both of which enter largely into the food of the herring, 

 medusae, copepods, and ostracods are also often found in great abun- 

 dance. 



Fishing boats come to this station from all the fishing villages in the 

 vicinity, but especially from Newhaven, Kirkcaldy, and Buckhaven. 



By a reference to Table B, page 80, it will be seen that the ' Garland,' 

 when trawling on the Roost, captured chiefly common dabs, haddocks, 

 plaice, lemon dabs, whiting, cod, long rough dabs, gurnards, skate, and ling. 



Station II. (Plate I.), is situated in the North Bay of the Forth, 

 2 miles off the shore, between West Wemyss and Leven. The bottom 

 for the most part consists of mud and stones, but sand is abundant towards 

 the N.E. end. The depth varies from 9 to 12 fathoms. 



Flat fish preponderate in this station, but haddocks are also often caught 

 in large numbers. This is partly accounted for by the nature of the 

 bottom fauna. There are, especially at the N.E. end, numerous brittle 

 stars, and in addition to ordinary star fish, sea urchins, and Crustacea, 

 there are mussels, scallops, whelks, a few oysters, and at times, loligo and 

 other 'cuttle fish.' At or near the surface, Sagitta, Appendicularia, 

 small medusa?, copepods, and other Crustacea are often abundant. 



This bank is chiefly fished by the Buckhaven and Kirkcaldy fishermen. 



The fish taken in the order of their abundance are — Haddocks, common 

 dabs, plaice, lemon dabs, whiting, long rough dabs, gurnards, and young 

 cod. 



Station III. extends eastwards from Inchkeith in a similar manner to 

 Station I. It lies south of that station, and runs to a point 2 miles off 

 Gullane Ness, on the south shore of the Firth. 



The bottom is composed chiefly of mud, but there is an admixture of 

 shells and stones, more or less covered with weeds. In depth it varies 

 from 8 to 10 fathoms. As in Station II., flat fish are more common than 

 round fish. 



The bottom is rich in Crustacea, including Nephrops (the Norway lobster), 

 edible and other crabs. There are also mussels, clams, whelks, oysters, 



