of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



15 



While all the plaice were marketable, there were none of medium size, 

 and none large; all were small. The majority of the haddocks, on the 

 other hand, were large or medium, viz., 330 large, 109 mediums, and 

 54 small or thirds. 



In the Moray Firth the first haul was made on the 17th, off Lybster, 

 in about 25 fathoms, a strong breeze blowing from the south-west. 

 The number of fishes obtained in the four hours' drag was 352, of 

 which 206 were marketable and 146 unmarketable. The catch com- 

 prised 20 cod, 146 haddocks, and 128 plaice; all the haddocks 

 except 46 small were unmarketable, and most of the plaice were 

 also small. The next haul was made in rather deeper water, 34 to 36 

 fathoms, a little farther off, and a rather better catch was got, viz., 522 

 fishes, of which 330 were marketable. Haddocks and plaice were again 

 most numerous — 315 and 162 respectively — and they were, as a rule, 

 larger, especially the plaice, 112 being either large or medium. Other 

 seven drags were taken off Lybster in from 23 to 35 fathoms, with as a 

 rule, poor results, though the weather had improved and the sea was 

 smooth. Omitting one of these, in which the net was split and only 108 

 fishes secured, the total number of fishes caught in the thirty-three hours 

 and ten minutes fishing was 3478, of which 2005 were marketable and 

 1473 unmarketable. The largest total number taken in any one haul 

 was 522 ; the largest number marketable in any haul was 330, and the 

 lowest 118. Haddocks and plaice formed the bulk of the fish caught, 

 the former numbered 1898, of which rather more than half were market- 

 able ; the latter numbered 875, all of which were marketable. The total 

 of the marketable haddocks and plaice according to size was as follows : — 



1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total 



Haddock 63 80 46 780 969 



Plaice 118 387 342 28 875 



The accompanying Table gives the particulars of the marketable and 

 unmarketable fishes of the eight hauls : — 





Cod. 



Codling. 



Haddock. 



Whiting. 



Coal-fish. 



Cat-fish. 



Brill. 



Plaice. 



I. 

 II. 



29 



67 



58 



969 

 929 



204 



2 



2 



2 



875 



Total 



29 



125 



1,898 



204 



2 



2 



2 



875 





Lemon 

 Dab. 



Witch. 



Common 

 Dab. 



Long 

 Eough 

 Dab. 



Herring. 



Starry 

 Ray. 



Skate. 



Angler. 



i 

 ii. 



39 



2 



254 



7 



1 



3 



12 

 11 



3 

 9 



Total 



39 



2 



254 



7 



1 



3 



23 



12 



On the 18th, owing to the comparatively poor catches on the grounds 

 off Lybster, the vessel left for the north coast to try Sandside Bay, but 

 the wind in the Pentland Firth was so strong that it was forced to 

 return. On the following night Sandside Bay was reached and three 



