PART IIL— SCIENTTFIC INVESTIGATIONS. 
GENERAL STATEMENT. 
This part of the Ninth Annual Report deals with the Scientific 
Investigations carried on by the Fishery Board during 1890, in 
connection with the sea and other fisheries. An account is 
also given of the scientific fishery work and the fishery regula- 
tions in other parfs of the United Kingdom, in most of the 
European States, in America, and several of the Colonies. 
The scientific work has been carried out, and the scientific 
report prepared, under the supervision of Dr T. Wemyss Fulton, 
F.R.S.E., Secretary for Scientific Investigations, acting by the direct 
instructions of the Board. 
During 1890 the following, amongst other inquiries, were 
carried on: — The influence of beam-trawling in the territorial 
seas, and in the waters adjacent to the coast; the capture and 
destruction of immature fish by trawl-nets, and how the evil 
arising therefrom may be remedied ; the present condition of the 
natural oyster beds on the West Coast of Scotland, and the 
suitability of Scottish waters for the e^rowth and rearing of 
oysters; the position and extent of the chief fishing-banks on 
the East Coast of Scotland, with especial reference to those where 
the herring spawns ; the reproduction, food, and migrations of the 
food-fishes, and their development, particularly of two of the most 
valuable of the flat-fishes, the plaice and the lemon sole. 
Physical observations on the temperature and density of the 
sea have been made daily at ten fixed stations, five on the 
East Coast, and five on the West Coast, and also on board the 
fishery cruisers. In addition, reliable fishermen have occasionally 
assisted in taking temperature observations during their visits 
to the fishing-grounds. 
A large part of the above investigations have been carried on 
by means of the Board's steam tender the ' Garland,' under the 
efficient command of Captain R. E. Simpson. The 'Garland' has 
also proved so extremely useful, while occupied in her ordinary 
duties, in protecting the waters in which beam-trawling is pro- 
hibited, and in detecting trawlers engaged in ilbgal fishin^r, that 
the I>oard deemed it advisable to request the Board of Trade to 
appoint Mr Simpson a Sea Fishery Oflicer under the Sea Fisheries 
Act, and this has accordingly been done. 
