of the Fishery Board for Scotland, 
25 
the closed waters, and also at Station V. in the open waters. In 1888, 
the average for the closed waters was 286 ; in 1889 it was 209*5. At 
Station V. the average in 1888 was 221*2 ; it 1889 it was 183*1. There 
has thus been a general decrease both in the closed area anc in the unclosed 
area. The decrease in the closed area in 1889 was due 1o a diminution 
in the numbers both of round-fish and flat-fish, but especially of round- 
fish. The averages are as follows : — flat fish, 215*6 in 1883 and 189*1 in 
1889; round-fish, 68*9 in 1888 and 19*2 in 1889. In the open area the 
decrease has been entirely in round-fish, flat-fish showing a slightly better 
average. The averages for each year since the trawling experiments were 
begun are as follows : — 
Ronnd-Fish. 
27*7 
87*6 
68*9 
19*2 
Open Area, < 
Fiat-Fish. 
/ 1886, 
148*7 
J 1887, 
346*1 
\ 1888, 
215*6 
( 1889, 
189*1 
' 1886, 
96*6 
1887, 
133*5 
' 1888, 
148*8 
1889, 
152*5 
73*0 
173*2 
72*4 
29*8 
It will thus be seen that, as in the averages for the Firth of Forth, 1887 
was an exceptional year. 
In the closed area, plaice showed an increase in 1889, as did also 
flounders; while common dabs and long rough dabs diminished, and the 
numbers of lemon soles remained the same as in 1888. In the case of 
round-fish there was a very slight increase in cod, a very great decrease in 
haddocks, and a slight decrease in whitings. In the unclosed area there 
was, as in the closed waters, an increase in plaice and flounders, a decrease 
in lemon soles, and a slight decrease of long rough dabs, while the numbers 
of the common dab remained much about the same. 
If we consider the stations in St Andrews Bay separately, it will be 
found that at Stations I. and II. there was a considerable increase in flat- 
fish (almost entirely of plaice), and a large decrease at Stations III. and IV. 
(chiefly of common dabs and plaice). Whitings, and especially haddocks, 
were obtained in much less numbers at all the stations. 
It is a remarkable circumstance that, although there has been a 
general decrease in the flat-fish, there has been, both in the closed and 
open areas of the Forth and St Andrews Bay, an increase in the numbers 
of plaice. 
3. Other East Coast Districts. 
The trawling stations at Montrose, in Aberdeen Bay, in the Moray 
Firth, and at the Orkney Islands were also examined. The results of the 
observations are given at page 107. 
The two stations at Montrose were described in last year's Report 
(p. 18), and were examined in June and in September. The data for 
comparison with those of 1888 are too few to be of much value, but so far 
as they go they show that in 1889 there was a very great increase in flat- 
fish, and a slight decrease in round-fish. The increase of flat-fish was due 
entirely to an increase in common dabs and plaice ; and the decrease in 
round-fish to a great decrease in haddocks. 
The stations at Aberdeen Bay were also examined in June and 
September. Here, likewise, the number of hauls was too few to yield 
results of much importance. The general average shows an increase from 
