of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
9 
the observations are of special value. It was rendered possible, 
however, through the courtesy of Mr James Johnston of Montrose, 
to send Mr Scott, one of the naturalists, to accompany the 
' Southesk,' or other steam trawler belonging to Messrs Johnston 
and Sons, during fishing operations at offshore grounds ; and much 
valuable information was thus obtained. The incapacity of the 
f Garland ' to carry on the work at moderate distances from shore 
forms a serious hindrance to the prosecution of the trawling and 
other fishery investigations. 
On 26th July 1889, the Herring Fishery (Scotland) Act came 
into operation. This Act excludes beam-trawling from the terri- 
torial waters of Scotland, and from certain bays and areas specified 
in the Schedule. 
The results of the trawling experiments of the ' Garland ' are 
given in full detail in the special report. During 1889, it was 
found that no increase, but, on the whole, a decrease, occurred in 
the closed waters, and likewise in the open waters adjacent. The 
decrease was mainly in the migratory round fishes, especially 
haddock and whiting. The former follows the shoals of spawning 
herring into the territorial waters to feed upon their spawn ; but 
last year the inshore herring fishery in the Firth of Forth was a 
failure, and a great falling off of haddocks occurred. There was 
a slight decrease in most of the flat fishes at the majority of the 
stations ; but an increase of many at several stations and in the 
opsn waters. The flat fiohes which have increased in numbers are 
especially plaice and flounders ; lemon soles and witch soles have 
diminished. Plaice has everywhere increased in numbers. As is 
shown in the report on the distribution of immature fish, the 
territorial waters form nurseries for young plaice ; it is reasonable 
to infer that by the protection of these nurseries this valuable food 
fish is increasing in numbers, both on inshore and offshore grounds. 
It appears that the results obtained in 1887 were exceptional, and 
that experimental observations must be carried on for a number of 
years. The results of concurrent investigations carried on on board 
the ' Garland ' into the food of fishes, their spawning, and the dis- 
tribution of the young, show that great and important differences 
prevail among the various food-fishes, and that it will be necessary 
to take these differences into account. A few instances may be 
given on the East Coast. The lemon sole and the witch sole spawn 
offshore, their young are most abundant beyond the territorial 
waters, and in 1889 their numbers had diminished. Flounders 
spawn inshore and offshore; their young are chiefly found inshore, 
and their numbers have increased. Plaice spawn exclusively off- 
shore, but their young are practically confined to the territorai waters, 
gradually migrating to offshore waters as they increase in size ; 
and they have augmented in numbers. It is shown in the report 
on immature fish that the greater proportion of young fishes inhabit 
the zone just beyond the territorai waters ; further inquiries may 
show the desirability of limiting the capture of immature indi- 
viduals of certain species in such localities. On the other hand, 
it may be shown to be desirable not in any way to protect certain 
species of little value, such as dab3, which compete with more 
valuable food-fishes. 
