58 



Appendices to Fifth Annual Report 



increase, while that of the succeeding months gradually decreased till 

 September, after which there is a sudden and very noticeable falling off. 

 Thus in the Firth of Forth the average number of fish per catch was 473 

 for July, 285 for September, 109 for November; in St Andrews 270 for 

 June, 247 for September, and 70 for November ; in Aberdeen Bay, 578 

 for July, 473 for September, and 37 for November. 



With regard to the relative abundance of the fish, it is found that 

 haddock are by far the most pleutiful of those captured in the Firth of 

 Forth ; they, in fact, form more than one-third of the entire catch, 

 while in St Andrews Bay the proportion of the number of haddock to the 

 number of fish taken is only one-fifteenth, in Aberdeen Bay, a little over 

 one-seventh. The largest takes of haddock in the Forth were made during 

 the months of June and July, but they remain the predominant fish even 

 in other months. 



Whiting are not nearly so numerous as the haddock, the relative 

 proportions being about as 1 to 9 ; they were caught in largest numbers 

 in June and July, although good takes were also got in September and 

 November. The number of cod captured is somewhat less than that of 

 whiting, but those taken are with one or two exceptions recorded as being 

 small ; there is no special month when they are plentiful, as good catches 

 being made in September as in June. 



Flat fish constitute more than one-half of the entire number of 

 fish taken by the ' Garland; ' common dabs, brill, and plaice being especially 

 abundant, lemon dabs being fairly numerous, while skate, flounders, 

 halibut, and turbot are poorly represented. Plentiful takes do not appear 

 to be confined to any particular month. 



Gurnard are largely present in the catches; they were taken in greatest 

 abundance in April, June and July. One or two good takes were, how- 

 ever, made in September, but in November very few are recorded. 



In St Andrews Bay, flat fish specially abound, making up more thau 

 two-thirds of the entire take. Among these, common dabs occur in 

 largest numbers, brill plaice come next, while lemon dabs, halibut, and 

 turbot are also represented. Flounders are more numerous than in 

 the Forth, there being on an average 5 for each haul in St Andrews 

 Bay, as compared with 1 in the Firth of Forth. The fishermen report 

 that flounders are more abundant than previously, and that last summer 

 they had better takes of flounders than they have had for several years. 

 Good catches of flat fish are not limited to any special month ; in November, 

 however, in all cases but one, the number captured was very low. Gurnard 

 also are much more abundant than in the Forth, 11 being the average 

 per take for the Forth, while in St Andrews Bay it amounts to 41. The 

 largest takes were made in May and June, but in November very few 

 gurnard were captured. 



Haddock are not so plentiful, being only one-fifteenth of the number of 

 fish taken ; this gives an average of 11 as the result of each trawl, com- 

 pared with 60 in the Firth of Forth. The months of May and June are 

 found to be the season of greatest catches. The number of whiting caught 

 is very small, averaging less than 2 for each haul, while only fifteen cod 

 were taken in twenty-three trawls. The whiting were almost entirely con- 

 fined to Station V. which is outside the boundary, and it is noticeable 

 that all the cod but one were taken in November. The fishermen report 

 that while flounders are more plentiful than formerly, there is a great de- 

 crease in the number of haddock ; they further state that there is not one- 

 third of the fish in the Bay it contained twenty years ago. 



In Aberdeen Bay, gurnards were by far the most plentiful, the average 

 catch being nearly 112, the proportion to the whole quantity captured being 



