of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
25 
Within the closed area there was a slight increase last year in plaice, 
lemon dabs, common dabs, and gurnards, and a decrease in cod, haddock, 
whiting and turbot. At the stations in the open area there was a decrease 
in dabs, cod, haddock, and whiting, and a slight increase in plaice. The 
average number of whiting per 'shot' fell from 121 '6 in 1890 to 9*0 in 
1891. 
Comparing the results at the different stations within the closed area, 
there was a general increase at Stations I. and IV., and a general decrease 
at all the others. Flat-fish increased at all stations except Stations II. 
and V. Round-fish decreased at all the stations without exception. In 
the open area flat-fish increased at Station IX. and decreased at Station 
VIII. ; round-fish decreased at both. 
2. St Andrews Bay. 
During 1891 thirty-three hauls of the trawl were made at the stations 
in St Andrews Bay, 27 at those within the closed area and 6 outside. 
In the closed waters there was a considerable decrease in the general 
average of fish captured per 'shot,'— from 347*2 in 1890 to 133*8 in 1891. 
This diminution was participated in both by flat-fish and by round-fish, 
but to a much greater extent among the former. The average catch of 
flat-fish in 1890 was 302*9 per 'shot,' compared with 109*4 last year. 
The average of round-fish also decreased from 40 per -shot' to 19*8. 
At the station in the open area the general average — including both flat- 
fish and round-fish — increased from 66*8 in 1890 to 300*1 in 1891, and 
this increase was entirely made up of flat-fish. The averages for 1890 
are: — flat-fish 29*8, round-fish 35*6; and those for 1891 are — flat-fish 
261*8, round-fish 30*8. The averages for each year, since the experiments 
were initiated, are given in the following table : — 
CLOSED AREA. 
Year. 
No. of Hauls. 
Average Catch per HauL 
Flat Fish. 
Round Fish. 
All Fish. 
1886 
15 
148-7 
27-7 
1887 
16 
346-1 
87-6 
1888 
20 
215-6 
68-9 
286-0 
1889 
28 
189-1 
19-2 
209-5 
1890 
24 
302-9 
40-0 
547-2 
1891 
27 
109-4 
19-2 
133-8 
OPEN AREA. 
Year. 
No. of Hauls. 
Average Catch per Haul. 
Flat Fish. 
Round Fish. 
All Fish. 
1886 
3 
96-6 
73-0 
1887 
4 
133-5 
173-2 
1888 
5 
148-8 
72-4 
22l'-2 
1589 
7 
152-5 
29-8 
183-1 
1890 
6 
29-8 
35-6 
66-8 
1891 
6 
261-8 
30-8 
300-1 
B 2 
