of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



23 



various parts of the area. The total number of hauls made was 106, 

 many of them being made by small-meshed nets ; and the work included 

 an examination of various parts of Loch Fyne. 



Comparison of the results obtained in the various years in which the 

 stations were examined shows that, taking all stations together, and all 

 kinds of fish, the average number caught per haul of the trawl has gener- 

 ally increased over the whole period, although fluctuations occurred in 

 different years. In 1888 the general average was 109*7 per haul ; in 1890 

 it was 99-5 per haul ; in 1895 it was 113-4 ; in 1896 it was 120*7, and 

 last year it was 112*5 fishes per haul of the net. 



The averages for the two groups of flat-fishes and round-fishes show that 

 the fluctuations have been for the most part in round-fishes ; the average 

 for flat-fishes has improved in each succeeding year. The averages are as 

 follows : — 





• 1888. 



1890. 



1895. 



1896. 



1897. 



Flat- Fishes, 



61-2 



61-1 



64-7 



75-5 



84-8 



Eound-Fishes, - 





35-1 



43-6 



35-1 



27-8 



An examination of the statistics relating to the different kinds of fishes 

 captured shows that the increase of flat-fishes took place for the most part 

 among witch flounders and dabs, the average for plaice having only 

 slightly increased. Plaice, however, are not so abundant in the Clyde as 

 on the East Coast, the most common flat-fish being the comparatively 

 worthless witch flounder ; the general average for plaice in the Moray 

 Firth, for example, is about twenty per ' shot,' while it is only slightly 

 over two in the Clyde. The various tables showing the numbers and 

 species of fishes taken in the course of the experiments, with the other 

 data, will be found appended to this Report. 



T. WEMYSS FULTON, 



Scientific Superintendent. 



