of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



175 



ova flowing freely ; but no male was among the two or three others on 

 deck at the time, and artificial fertilisation could not therefore be 

 accomplished. None of the cod obtained were either ripe or spent ; the 

 floating and well-developed cod spawn must have been derived from 

 another source. No fish but the haddocks and the one ling were found 

 ripe. A large specimen of Luidia ciliaris, measuring 18 inches 

 across the arms, was brought up. 



VII. Off the Forfarshire Coast. 



This series of trawlings (also by the ' Southesk ') was much interfered 

 with by reason of tempestuous weather. The first haul was made on 

 the 1st April, about 7 or 8 miles east of Montrose, and yielded only 

 about 4 boxes of fish — chiefly haddocks, with a few plaice, witches, 

 sail flukes (Amoglossus megastoma), whitings, dabs, &c. The surface-net 

 contained a very few fish ova; the surface temperature being 41° F. 

 Other 3 drags were made with poor results, and the wind and sea 

 increasing in violence, the vessel had to run to port. On the 3rd April the 

 trawl was let down again about 40 miles east south-east of Montrose, but the 

 catch was very small. A few fish ova were got in the surface-net. The 

 next haul was made between 70 and 80 miles east of Montrose. About 

 10 boxes of fish were obtained, chiefly of haddocks; about 1 box of 

 plaice and 1 of lemon soles were also got, besides whiting, skate, and 

 several large cod. The surface-net, which w r as towed for 3 hours, 

 contained a considerable quantity of Sagittce and Schizopods, but very few 

 fish ova. Very few of the haddocks or cod appeared to be mature. The 

 weather continued so stormy that the vessel had again to run to 

 harbour. 



IV. SOLWAY SHRIMP AND FLOUNDER FISHINGS. By J. H. 



FULLARTON, M.A, B.Sc. 



The Sol way fishings may be roughly divided into two, according to 

 whether the fish sought are salmon, or white fish and shrimps. Besides, 

 in such places as Wigtown Bay, enormous quantities of splendid mussels 

 grow, but nothing is done to foster this industry, although good prices are 

 obtained for those sent from Creetown for consumption in Manchester, 

 Oldham, and other English towns. 



It is almost impossible to dissociate the salmon and the white fish, as 

 great numbers of the latter are caught in the traps of the fixed stake-nets, 

 and in order to promote the fishing industry, it might be advisable to com- 

 pel the owners of all such fixed engines as stake-nets and paidle-nets, as 

 well as. the movable nets of the white-fishing boats, to return all under- 

 sized flat-fish to the sea. 



When I visited Annan, which is the chief port of the trawling smacks, 

 I made arrangements with one of the fishermen to go trawling with me, 

 and, accordingly we set out a little after 2 o'clock on the morning of 

 Friday, 19th April. After getting our gear on board, we left Annan Water- 

 foot with ebb tide, and beat down the Firth against a stiff breeze of 

 westerly wind to below Southerness Lighthouse, a distance of 16 miles. 

 About 6 o'clock in the morning we took off all sail and immediately 

 let go our stern shrimp-trawl. In a few minutes we also sent over the 



