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Part III. — Seventh Annual Report 



Besides plaice, specimens of all the commoner flat-fishes were obtained, 

 including turbot, brill, witches (Pleuronectes cynoglossiis), sail flukes 

 (Arnoglossus megastoma), lemon dabs, common dabs, long rough dabs, and 

 one or two soles (Solea vulgaris). Lemon dabs, common dabs, and long- 

 rough dabs were the most abundant. The roe and milt of the long rough 

 dabs were well developed, many being nearly ripe ; in the others, they 

 were mostly immature. A few specimens of skate (R. batis, R. clavata, 

 and R. radiata) were captured. 



Round- Fish. — Haddocks were taken in considerable numbers, but they 

 were mostly small, ranging from 10 to 14 inches; a few, however, were 

 larger, measuring from 17 to 23 inches. Cod, as a rule, were scarce. A 

 lythe, a few congers, ling, cat-fish, and gurnards were also obtained ; and 

 a number of angler-fish were brought up at each haul. The reproductive 

 organs of the round-fish, with the exception of a few gurnards, were 

 immature. About a dozen gurnards altogether were taken; 4 were 

 partly spent, and the others immature. 



Tow-Nettings. — The tow-net was used night and day as often as 

 possible. There were comparatively few organisms caught at the surface, 

 especially during daylight, but fish eggs were abundant, large numbers 

 being undoubtedly the ova of plaice. In the bottom tow-net, fixed to the 

 beam of the trawl, Schizopods, Copepods, and Sagittse were found in 

 abundance, but there were few fish eggs. 



II. St Andrews Bay. 



As it was desired to test the condition of St Andrews Bay and the 

 adjoining waters with a large beam trawl, arrangements were made for the 

 ' Southesk ' to trawl along certain lines, on February 1st partly within and 

 partly without the area where trawling is prohibited. The first line was 

 elliptical in form, beginning in the vicinity of the Abertay Spit, passing 

 southward parallel to the shore, and turning northwards opposite Barbet 

 Ness to near the point where it commenced. The fish obtained consisted 

 almost entirely of plaice (5 boxes) ; there were also 3 small cod, 4 skate, 

 and 6 other fish. The largest plaice measured 17 inches, the average 

 length being about 13 inches. The reproductive organs were in all cases 

 immature, but the quality of the fish was good. The second line started 

 from the mouth of the Eden, and it was intended that it should pass 

 eastwards for 10 or 15 miles. The state of the wind and tide interfered 

 with this arrangement. The course steered was east-south-east for 8 miles, 

 and then north-east by east in the direction of the Bell Eock. The trawl 

 was down for 4 hours, the take consisting of scarcely one box of plaice, 

 one box of small cod and haddocks, a small turbot, and a few other flat 

 fish. The tow-nets were kept constantly at work, but no floating fish 

 eggs were obtained. 



III. Firth of Forth. 



These inquiries were carried on, on the 5th and 6 th of February, on 

 board Mr Gunn's steam trawler, ' Ocean Kover.' The lines selected for 

 trawling operations were : — (1) an axial line from the neighbourhood of 

 Oxcar to 15 miles beyond May Island; (2) a transverse line from Largo 

 Bay to Gullane Ness. The trawl was to be lifted at regular intervals. 

 These lines were not strictly adhered to, however, owing to the risk to the 

 net from bad ground, &c. Eight hauls were made. The main results, 

 which correspond to those obtained by the 1 Garland,' may be stated as 

 follows : — (1) while some moderately large cod and haddock were got, the 



