of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



9 



When the statistics relating to the various species are con- 

 sidered, it is found that the increase among the flat-fishes has been 

 principally in witches and long rough dabs, as shown by the follow- 

 ing averages : — 





1888. 



1890. 



1895. 



1896. 



1897. 



1898. 



1899. 



Plaice 



53 



3-4 



2-3 



2-1 



2-5 



3-0 



1-5 



Lemon Soles 



7-4 



5-6 



2-8 



7-2 



5-3 



4-1 



7'2 



Witches 



12-7 



19-7 



25-7 



35-9 



47-1 



36-5 



41-7 



Common Dabs 



23-8 



13-8 



14-0 



15-7 



12-7 



13-6 



14-9 



Long Rough Dabs 



5-3 



17-7 



20-0 



15-1 



16-8 



37-3 



36-5 



The same general result is shown when the averages for the 

 comparable months are considered, with the exception of 

 December 1898, witches and long rough dabs exhibiting a substantial 

 increase, and plaice a diminution. 



The trawling investigations begun in Loch Fyne in 1896 show 

 that, within the period, witches and long rough dabs have also given 

 an increased average, while plaice do not indicate the same diminution 

 as at the outer stations. Inasmuch as the observations hitherto 

 made in the Clyde comprise a comparatively small number of 

 hauls, especially in the earlier years, inferences as to changes in 

 the abundance of the fishes in the closed area must be provisional. 



The special statistics which have been collected for the past six 

 years, showing the quantities of fish caught in the closed waters of 

 the Moray Firth by line-fishermen, are appended to the Report. 

 The following figures indicate the quantities landed in each district 

 in each of the years, as well as the average weight taken per " shot" 

 of the line: — 





1894. 



1895. 



1896. 



1897. 



1898. 



1899. 



District. 





























Cwts. 



Aver- 



Cwts. 



Aver- 



Cwts. 



Aver- 



Cwts. 



Aver- 



Cwts. 



Aver- 



Cwts. 



Aver- 







age. 



age. 



age. 



age. 



age. 



age. 



Wick . 



19,008 



2-47 



23,009 



4-03 



31,556 



5-40 



44,258 



6-16 



31,383 



6-49 



26,116 



5-106 



Lybster 



4,408 



4-91 



3,977 



3-77 



4,241 



2-87 



7,118 



4-22 



4,438 



3-26 



4,309 



1-398 



Helmsdale . 



15,826 



3-52 



16,669 



4-15 



18,360 



4-71 



17,148 



4-93 



13,143 



3-84 



12,752 



3-85 



Cromarty . 



21.346 



3-07 



19,193 



2-93 



15,317 



2-51 



14,736 



2-48 



12,428 



2-065 



11,183 



1-815 



Fmdhorn . 



60,074 



4-04 



68,761 



4-86 



63,521 



4-46 



46,694 



2-66 



30,770 



2-088 



31,825 



1-957 



Buckie 



4S,540 



4-21 



50,489 



4-66 



57,450 



5-05 



50,067 



4-77 



41,102 



4-24 



34,915 



3 357 



Banff . 



49,292 



2-94 



76,491 



477 



66,471 



3-82 



61,329 



3-70 



36,057 



2*13 



26,675 



2-406 





218,494 



3-05 



258,589 



4-43 



256,916 



4-26 



241,350 



3-83 



169,321 



3-244 



147,775 



2,666 



