12 
Part III. — Eighth Annual Report 
portion of immature to adults (a most vital point) chiefly plaice, 
flounder, lemon soles, turbot, and brill ; (4) that very large numbers 
of immature cod are captured, especially inshore ; also considerable 
quantities of immature whitings and gurnards, and fewer immature 
haddocks ; (5) that the ordinary trawl-net used by large beam- 
trawlers probably, in ordinary circumstances, captures very few 
fish under 6 inches in length ; (6) that the size of the mesh of the 
trawl-net, per se, exerts a most important influence on the propor- 
tion of immature fish captured ; and (7) that the majority of the 
immature fish captured by the beam-trawl, as now used, would 
probably perish if returned to the sea. 
Dr Fulton points out that shrimp-fishing, and especially shrimp- 
trawling, involves the capture of large numbers of immature flat 
fish, and the destruction of many, and recommends that an exhaus- 
tive scientific inquiry be made into this subject. 
The conclusions in regard to line-fishing are — (1) that consider- 
able quantities of immature round fish, especially cod, and at some 
seasons haddocks and whitings, are taken by hook and line ; but, 
except in the case of cod, the proportion of immature to adults is 
not great; (2) that comparatively few immature flat fish are caught 
by hook and line, and then mainly the commoner and less valuable 
kinds. 
The capture of immature fish by bag-nets, weirs, seines, &c, is 
also described. 
In dealing practically with the wasteful destruction of immature 
food-fishes, Dr Fulton points out the necessity of carefully dis- 
tinguishing between the different species ; and shows how difficult it 
will be to preserve immature fish from capture and destruction by 
the beam-trawl, as that engine is now employed. Enlargement of the 
mesh of the net will not alone solve the difficulty. The recommenda- 
tions are, briefly that an inquiry should be made as to the 
retention of vitality by the various kinds of immature fish brought 
up in the trawl, in order to ascertain their chances of survival if 
replaced in the sea; the protection of nurseries whose areas are 
capable of definition, as in the case of immature plaice in territorial 
waters ; the preservation of valuable flat fish under a certain size ; 
and the establishment of hatcheries for sea fish, as in Norway, 
Newfoundland, and the United States. A simple method is ex- 
plained, by which fishermen and trawlers might add to the fish 
supply by fertilising the ova of ripe fish when captured. 
3. Inquiries into the Food, the Spawning, and Spawning 
Grounds and the Migrations of the Food-Fishes. 
An important branch of fishery investigations comprises those 
into the food, reproduction, and habits of the food-fishes. The 
value of the work of the Board in this department has been 
recognised by continental fishery authorities, who, as may be seen 
from the section on contemporary fishery work, are organising 
similar inquiries. These investigations have been made almost 
entirely on board the 'Garland.' 
The Food of Fishes. — This important subject is dealt with in an 
elaborate report by Mr Kamsay Smith, B.Sc, based upon the 
