14 



Part III. — Twenty-third Annual Report 



With the large commercial trawl, the efficient ship, and the experienced 

 trawlers in charge, it is possible to make a much more thorough and 

 extensive examination of the grounds than was previously possible. 



The work has been sometimes carried on under difficulty, inasmuch as 

 since the reduction of the Vote for Scientific Investigations, when the 

 International researches were initiated, no assistance was available, and it 

 was impossible for me alone to conduct these experiments with the regu- 

 larity that was desirable. In autumn of last year, Dr. H. C. William- 

 son was re-appointed to the scientific staff of the Board, and I have to 

 thank that gentleman for his assistance in these investigations. 



I. 



The first of the series of investigations in Aberdeen Bay and the Moray 

 Firth was made in January, from the 14th to the 23rd, the steam 

 trawler "Ern" being employed, one of the objects being to obtain 

 a supply of large living plaice for the hatchery at the Bay of Nigg. 

 Besides Aberdeen Bay, the places visited were the grounds off the Ord of 

 Caithness and Lybster, Dunnet Bay, and Sandside Bay, these two being 

 situated on the north coast. Three hauls were made in Aberdeen Bay 

 on the 14th, a strong wind blowing from the south-west with rain. The 

 first was in from 5 to 20 fathoms, off ISTewburgh, for four hours and 

 five minutes, and the catch was small, comprising 387 fishes, of which 

 360 were marketable and 27 unmarketable. Haddocks and codling 

 formed the bulk of the catch, there being few plaice, and they were all 

 small. The other two hauls were also taken off Newburgh, in from 4| 

 to 9 fathoms, and they were still less productive, the respective totals 

 being 218 and 293 fishes, the hauls lasting for four hours and four 

 hours and five minutes. Plaice were again very scarce, and haddocks were 

 not numerous, but a considerable number of codling were taken. Among 

 the fishes in the second haul were 14 herrings and 22 sprats. In the 

 three hauls, lasting for twelve hours and ten minutes, 898 fishes were 

 taken, of which 783 were marketable and 115 unmarketable. The 

 numbers of marketable and unmarketable of the various species were as 

 follows : — 





Cod. 



Codling. 



Haddock. 



Whiting. 



Plaice. 



I. 

 II. 



Total 



5 



186 

 12 



431 

 19 



27 



71 



5 



198 



512 



27 



71 





Com. Dab. 



Long 

 Rough Dab. 



Sprat. 



Herring. 



Starry Ray. 



I. 



n. 



Total 



28 

 1 



4 



22 



14 



16 



29 



4 



22 



14 



16 



