24 
Part III, — Eighth Annual Report 
the averages are : — 114'7 in 1888, and 68*6 in 1889. The averages for 
the past four years are as follows : — 
Fiat-Fish. 
f 1886! 
Closed Area, ■{ 
' 1887, 
Open Area, 
j 1888, 
[ 1889, 
1886, 
1887, 
1888, 
1889, 
112-8 
203-1 
117-0 
110-9 
47-5 
89-8 
344 
40-3 
Round-Fish. 
131-8 
144-1 
92-1 
49-8 
36-7 
123-4 
114-7 
68-6 
It would therefore appear that 1887 was an exceptional year. 
So much for the general proportions of flat-fish and round-fish. In the 
case of the various kinds of flat-fish obtained in the closed waters it will 
be seen from the tables that plaice, flounders, and long rough dabs have 
slightly increased, while lemon soles, witch soles, and common dabs have 
diminished ; skate also have slightly decreased. In the unclosed waters 
there has been a slight increase in plaice, lemon soles, common dabs, long 
rough dabs, and flounders, and a decrease in witch soles. Among round- 
fish we find that in the closed area there has been a considerable decrease 
of haddock and whiting, while cod and gurnard have remained pretty 
much as in 1888. In the open area exactly the same thing has occurred, 
namely, a considerable diminution of the numbers of haddock and whiting, 
while cod and gurnard have remained stationary. 
If the takes at the various stations in the closed area are compared in 
the two years, it will be found that there has been a general decrease at 
Stations I., II., III., V., and VII., and an increase at Stations IV. and 
VI. The increase at Station IV. is entirely owing to an increase in flat- 
fish, and almost wholly to plaice, the average per 'shot' of plaice in 1888 
being 147, while in 1889 it was 192*8. At Station VI. the increase is 
also due to an increase in flat-fish, and chiefly to plaice, common dabs, and 
long rough dabs. At the other stations, diminution has occurred both in 
round-fish and flat-fish (especially in round-fish), except at Station V., 
where flat-fish have considerably increased. Plaice have decreased at all 
the stations except at Stations IV., V., and VI.; lemon soles have 
decreased at all stations except Stations V, and VI.; flounders have 
increased at all the stations; common dabs have increased at Stations I., 
IV, V., and VI., and decreased at Stations II., III., and VII.; long rough 
dabs have increased at Stations I., III., V., and VI., and diminished at 
Stations II., IV., and VII. The average numbers of cod taken per 'shot' 
at the various stations show a remarkable correspondence in the two years. 
Haddocks have decreased in numbers at all stations, sometimes to a very 
great extent; and whitings at all stations except V., where a slight increase 
occurred. If a comparison be made between the monthly average per 
'shot' of the whole of the closed area in 1888 and 1889, it will be found 
that there has been a general increase, especially in flat-fish, during the 
latter months of 1889 ; and the same remark is true of the open area. . 
2. St Andrews Bay. 
Plate I. 
The fishing grounds within the protected area were examined on twenty- 
eight occasions, and those in the open waters beyond on seven occasions. 
As in the Firth of Forth there was a decrease in the general average in 
