11 
high ligures of the previous season would be maintained, but as a 
matter of fact the average results for the whole district are slightly 
greater than those of last year : — 
Turbot. Sole. Plaice. Dab. Flat Fishes. 
1002— 4 ... 21 ... 165 ... 121 ... 817 
1903— 18-3 ... 58-7 ... 180-6 ... 115-5 ... 321 
It is only when we come to analyse the catches in detail 
that we find this high average to be due to the large increase 
' wliich has this year characterised Skate Roads. The other 
1 bays have suffered a regression in the numbers of the commoner 
flat fishes, and this is accompanied by a remarkable increase 
I in the numbers of prime fishes. The decrease, however, it 
ought be observed, is only as compared with last year, and the 
figures even for tlie plaice and dabs are still on the whole in 
advance of the averages for previous seasons. 
The gradual improvement which our experiments have shown 
during all these years is therefore continued. Last year it was 
1 natural to associate the large catches made in the commercial way, 
as also the abnormally high figures we got in the course of our 
{ experiments, with the bad weather which characterised that year, 
lln our own case this season we have a return to the more normal 
rate of advance, and as regards the experiences of our fishermen it 
I may be said that while ground fishes appeared to be more numerous, 
1 mid- water fishes were less plentiful. The weather, however, has 
: been wor.se if anything, although it must be said that the water 
was not so cold during the summer as it was in 1902. It has not 
been possible for us to enquire more deeply into the relationship 
between the external conditions and the fish life of these areas, and 
our work would have to be conducted on a very much larger scale if 
uve were seriously to make the attempt. 
That there is an increase in our average catches this year is due, 
? as has been pointed out, to the extraordinarily large catch made at 
5 Skate Roads. At the latter station the average for plaice for the 
{period 1894-1901 was 139-4. This year on the occasion of our 
August visit we obtained 455 plaice. Compared with last season 
; the other stations all show a decrease with regard to plaice and 
dabs. Blyth Bay, however, is exceptional, in that there is this year 
a marked increase of dabs. Blyth Bay : — 
Turbot. Sole. Plaice. Dab. Flat Fishes. 
1902— 0 ... 28 ... 290 ... 89 ... 404 
1903— 3 ... 20 ... 207 ... 122 ... 362 
