of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



23 



The numbers of the different kinds taken in the small-meshed net may- 

 be contrasted with the numbers taken in the trawl net. 



In Small -meshed 



In Otter- Net outside 



trawl. Trawl Net. 



Haddock, 2 1 



Whiting, — 628 



Codling, 7 



Gurnard, ..... — 8 



Plaice, 240 355 



Common Dab, .... 9 524 



Long Rough Dab, .... — 6 



Small or Yellow Sole, ... — 6 



Herring, ..... — 8 



Sprat, — 15 



Armed Bullhead, .... — 6 



Goby, sp., ..... — 3 



Sand-eel, ..... — 3 



Pipe-fish, ..... — 6 



Flounder, 18 — 



Angler, ...... 3 — 



Thornback, ..... 5 — 



277 1576 



In the hour's drag a total of at least 1853 fishes had entered the trawl, 

 of which it retained 277, while the remaining 1576 escaped through the 

 meshes of the trawl and were retained by the small-meshed net. The 

 result shows that haddocks, both big and little, were practically absent 

 from the grounds in the Dornoch Firth which were fished over at the 

 time ; that small whitings, too small to be taken in the otter-trawl, were 

 present in large numbers, while large whitings were absent, and that small 

 codling were there in inconsiderable numbers. No codling or whiting 

 were caught in any of the hauls with the ordinary net. The large 

 number of small plaice which escaped from the trawl net is also 

 noteworthy, and still more, the common dabs. On the other hand, while 

 18 flounders were taken iu the otter-trawl, none were got in the small- 

 meshed net, the smaller flounders not making their way into water of 6| 

 fathoms depth, but remaining close in on the beach and the brackish 

 water. The abundance of large flounders in the deepish water at this 

 time of year is in agreement with what has been found on other 

 occasions,* and is referred to more fully below. The presence of young 

 gurnards may be noted. 



After leaving the Dornoch Firth, the grounds east of the Suters of 

 Cromarty were again visited, as above stated, and an attempt was then 

 made to go to Smith Bank, but owing to the strong wind and high sea 

 the vessel was forced to turn, and it then proceeded to Aberdeen Bay. 

 Here a haul was made off the Quarries, on February 11th, in from eight to 

 tw3lve fathoms of water ; it lasted for an hour, the small-meshed net being 

 attached as described above. There was a strong north-west breeze and 

 a rough sea, and the number of fishes taken in the otter-trawl was only 

 60, 47 being marketable and 13 unmarketable. The catch consisted of 

 7 cod, 20 codlings, all marketable, 14 marketable haddocks, and 3 

 whitings among the round-fishes, while the flat-fishes were represented by 

 only 7 common dabs, no plaice being taken, and there were also 9 starry 

 rays. 



* Twenty -first Annual Report, Part II/., p. 44. 



