of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



173 



majority of round-fish were small ; (2) flat fish, especially plaice, were 

 comparatively scarce ; (3) the fish were very unequally distributed in 

 different parts of the firth, and were, on the whole, rather scarce ; (4) with 

 the exception of a few long rough dabs {Ityopoglossoides limandoides) and 

 a few herring, which were nearly or about mature, the reproductive organs 

 of all the fish were more or less immature. No floating fish eggs were 

 obtained. 



IV. Lybster Bay. 



From February 18 to 22 the 'Southesk' was engaged off the Caithness 

 Coast, in the vicinity of Lybster Bay. Seventeen hauls of the trawl were 

 made, and although the same kinds of fish were got as at the Smith 

 Bank at the end of January they were more 'mixed' in regard to size. 

 There were fewer plaice and more small individuals amongst them; a 

 great many appeared to be spent, some were evidently spawning, and some 

 were immature. Cod and lemon soles were more abundant. All the 

 cod were immature, except one male which was ripe; cod appear to 

 spawn in the Moray Firth chiefly about the end of March and the beginning 

 of April. One female long rough dab was ready to spawn. Three small 

 halibuts, and one Gadus luscus, were also obtained. Although the surface 

 and bottom tow-nets were kept well employed, only a few fish eggs were 

 obtained on 4 occasions in the surface-net. In the bottom-net (fixed 

 to the beam of the trawl) considerable numbers of Schizopods (chiefly 

 Boreophausia) were obtained ; also a number of specimens of Anonyx denticu- 

 latus. On one occasion a broken piece of a long line was brought up; one 

 or two cod attached to the hooks were partially decayed, and contained a 

 large number of specimens of the Amphipod, Gallisoma crenata. 

 Mr Scott succeeded in fertilising a considerable number of plaice eggs, 

 development proceeding at first very rapidly; and he preserved specimens 

 at intervals of from half an hour to 72 hours after fertilisation. 



V. Off the Caithness Coast. 



On the 25th of February one haul was made off the Caithness Coast, 

 about 6 or 7 miles south of Wick. The weather was stormy. The take 

 was poor, consisting mainly of plaice, the large ovas chiefly females and 

 the smaller males ; they were principally spent fish. There were also a 

 few round-fish, mainly haddocks and codlings. In the surface tow-net 

 were a few fish eggs, Schizopods, Copepocls, and Sagittce; in the bottom- 

 net, abundance of Schizopods (chiefly Boreojrfiausia) and a few fish ova. 



The next haul was made about 12 miles north-north- west of Lossiemouth 

 early in the morning of the 26th. Owing to an obstruction the net was 

 hove up in 3 hours, and contained a small quantity of fish, mainly 

 haddocks, codlings, and small witch soles (Pleuronectes cynoglossus). The 

 surface-net contained fish ova and a few very young fish. 



The third haul was made early in the forenoon in the vicinity of the 

 Smith Bank. The catch was small, and consisted chiefly of plaice; also a 

 few cod, haddocks, and gurnards. None were mature; there were a few 

 fish ova in the surface-net. Other 3 hauls were made here with a 

 very similar result. Schizopods were very abundant in the bottom tow- 

 net. Several hauls were then again made off Lossiemouth, in from 50 

 to 60 fathoms of water. Large numbers of cod and haddock were taken. 

 A considerable number of the haddocks were small, but some were large — 

 16 to 20 inches long. About half a dozen haddocks were quite 

 ripe, but the great majority were only about half mature. One or two 

 male cod were ripe; the others more or less immature. A few hake were 



