18 
The charts have been constructed in the following manner ; — 
The vertical line for each year represents the total average catch 
)f flat fishes. It is divided by a horizontal line into two portions. 
The upper part of the line belongs to the plaice, to which is added 
i n each case the number of flounders. The lower part of the line 
• diows in similar manner the dabs, and in this case each line is also 
1 nade to indicate the numbers in succession of soles and of turbot 
ind brill. The lower one of the two upper curves therefore shows 
tbhe variation for all the years represented in the catches of plaice. 
The curve immediately below the horizontal line in the same way 
; ’epresents the variations in the catches of dabs. A comparison of 
I ;he charts is interesting moreover as showing even better than was 
1 rttempted in the last report the character of each bay as regards 
I ihe proportion of the fiat fishes present in each, at all events during 
I die summer months. At Cambois Bay, for example, the dabs and 
I ; olaice are and have been for practically the whole series of years in 
i mbout ec^ual numbers. Druridge Bay is almost exactly like Cambois 
I 1 Bay, but in the latter case the more modern success of the dabs is 
I ; nucli more apparent. At Alnmouth Bay the slightly larger pro- 
1 ; oortionate number of plaice is evident, and at the same time the 
I .great diminution of these during the past two years. Before 1802 
I [ die proportion of plaice to dabs may be said to have been 8/2 ; but 
I n 1902 and 1903 these two forms have by a diminution, especially 
n the numbers of the plaice, come to occupy as they do in the bays 
; :o the south about an equal place as regards numbers. At Skate 
! Roads, on the other hand, plaice are conspicuously predominant. 
The proportion in relation to dabs is about 1/5 to 1/7. This station 
differs from the others too in the fact that the prime fish are for the 
I Host part turbot and brill. At these latter the most prevalent prime 
ish is the sole. 
The charts also indicate the progress made during the period, 
lit is at once apparent that the more southern stations have benefited 
.0 the greatest extent. There is little need to put into words what 
; ihe charts plainly indicate for Cambois Bay and for Druridge Bay. 
A\ similar improvement is evident for Blyth Bay likewise, though for 
-he reason that for a few years the experiments have been incom- 
olete for that bay, the results have not been charted. Alnmouth 
Bay was also clearly improving in the numbers of fiat fishes up to 
1901, since which period it has suffered, especially in the number 
of plaice. This year, in fact, the average return for plaice is the 
•owest we have had to record for that bay since the experiments 
