20 



Part III. — Thirteenth Annual Report 



compared with 154*4 last year. There was a considerable decrease in the 

 average for round-fish, namely, 21 5 as against 43*9 in 1893. At the 

 stations in the open area the results show an increase in the abundance 

 of fish, the average per haul in 1893 being 93*3, while last year it was 

 170'6. This increase took place both in flat-fish and in round-fish ; the 

 average catch of the latter year was 100*5, as against 61*5 in the 

 previous year. Flat-fishes increased from an average per ' shot ' of 30*5 

 in 1893 to 68 last year. The averages for each year since the trawling 

 experiments were initiated are given in the following table : — 



CLOSED ACEA. 



Year. 



No. of Hauls. 



Average Catch per Haul. 



Flat Fish. 



Round Fish. 



All Fish. 













1886 



15 



147*0 



27-6 



176-8 



1887 



16 



340-7 



87-5 



428-8 



1888 



20 



213-2 



68-9 



286-0 



1889 



28 



187-4 



19-2 



209-5 



1890 



24 



302-9 



40-0 



347-2 



1891 



27 



109-4 



19-8 



133-8 



1892 



32 



84-0 



36-6 



128-4 



1893 



24 



102-8 



43-9 



148-2 



1894 



16 



154-4 



21-5 



179-2 



OPEN AREA. 



Year. 



No. of Hauls. 



Average Catch per Haul. 



Flat Fish. 



Round Fish. 



All Fish. 



1886 



3 



97-2 



72-8 



171-6 

 308-4 



1887 



4 



129-4 



173-3 



1888 



5 



148-3 



72-4 



221-2 



1889 



7 



151-4 



29-8 



183-1 

 66-8 



1890 



6 



29-8 



35-6 



1891 



6 



261-8 



30-8 



300-1 



1892 



8 



50-3 



53-6 



105-7 



1893 



6 



30-5 



61-5 



93-3 



1894 



8 



68-0 



100-5 



170-6 



With regard to the increase or decrease of the various kinds of fish 

 within the closed waters, the tables show that there was a large increase 

 in common dabs and flounders, and a decrease of plaice, cod, haddocks, 

 and whitings. At the stations in the open area there was an increase in 

 plaice, common dabs, long rough dabs, whitings, cod, and haddocks. 



3. The Moray Firth. 



In last year's Report, the situation and the physical conditions of the 

 sixteen trawling stations selected in the Moray Firth were described. 

 Some of them lie within the three-mile limit, and therefore comparatively 



