14 



Part III. — Fifteenth Annual Report 



p. 246. A description of the pelagic eggs and young fishes obtained by 



the 1 Garland ' last year in the Firth of Forth, Moray Firth, and 

 Firth of Clyde, is furnished by Mr H. M. Kyle. 



Seine-Net Fishing for Herrings. 



Arrangements were again made in the spring of the present year, 

 before the time that the herring fishing on Ballantrae Bank usually 

 begins, to conduct an investigation as to the action of the seine-net 

 in capturing herrings on that spawning ground, particularly with 

 reference to the main allegations against its use, namely, the 

 destruction of herring- spawn and the capture of large quantities of 

 immature herrings. However, as has been the case during previous 

 seasons when similar arrangements were made, the seine-net was 

 scarcely ever employed on the bank, and hence it was not possible 

 to make the necessary investigations. Such being the case, the 

 Board have arranged to extend the inquiry as opportunity occurs 

 to other districts in the West Coast where this mode of fishing 

 for herrings is employed. 



The Oyster -Beds in the Fiuth of Forth. 



In last year's Eeport a description was given of the present ex- 

 hausted condition of the oyster-beds in the Firth of Forth, and of 

 the measures which might be taken with the view of restoring part 

 of them to their previous state. Communications on the subject 

 have passed between the Board and the Town Council of Edinburgh, 

 as well as the other proprietors, and a preliminary conference for 

 the consideration of the report dealing with the beds was held 

 during the present year. In view of the importance of the matter 

 to the public and to the fishermen along the shores of the Firth of 

 Forth, the Board are desirous of giving all the assistance in their 

 power to facilitate a satisfactory arrangement being reached. 



The Rearing of Larval and Post-Larval Plaice and 

 other Flat-Fishes. 



K 175. In connection with the artificial propagation of the food fishes a 



series of experiments were made by Mr H. Dannevig in the rear- 

 ing of the young fishes derived from the artificially fecundated eggs, 

 which have yielded results of scientific interest. The natural food 

 of the early post-larval plaice has been determined, and also the 

 duration of the larval and post-larval periods. It was found that 

 the larvre from plaice eggs which were fertilised on the 28th 

 April and hatched on the 10th May, took eight days to absorb 

 the yolk and enter on the post-larval stage, and other thirty-four 

 days, or forty-two days from the elate of hatching, before they 

 settle permanently on the bottom as typical little fiat-fishes. The 

 changes during their development are described and illustrated in 

 a plate. 



