TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. 



TO THE MOST HONOURABLE 



THE MARQUESS OF LINLITHGOW, K.T., G.C.M.G., 



His Majesty s Secretary for Scotland. 



Office of The Fishery Board 

 for Scotland, 

 Edinburgh, 30th June 1905. 



My Lord Marquess, 



In continuation of our Twenty- third Annual Keport, 

 we have the honour to submit — 



PART III. — SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS. 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 



This part of the Twenty-third Annual Report deals with the 

 scientific investigations conducted by the Board in 1904 in con- 

 nection with the sea fisheries of Scotland, so far as these have been 

 completed, by means of the Parliamentary Vote granted for the 

 purpose. 



The scientific work has been carried out and the scientific report 

 prepared under the supervision of Dr. T. Wemyss Fulton, the 

 Scientific Superintendent. 



The researches have been made for the most part at the Board's 

 Marine Laboratory at the Bay of Nigg, Aberdeen, which was 

 erected and equipped some years ago. The sea-fish hatchery is 

 also situated at the same place, and a statement as to its opera- 

 tions during the year will be found below. The provision of a 

 suitable boat in connection with the Laboratory would be of much 

 advantage in carrying on the investigations. 



The investigations into the condition of the fishing grounds, more 

 particularly in the Moray Firth and Aberdeen Bay, which were 

 begun five years ago by means of steam-trawlers, were continued 

 last year as frequently as circumstances allowed. One of the 

 chief objects of these trawling investigations is to ascertain as far 

 as possible the changes which may 03cur in the abundance of the 



