14 
B. — RESULTS FOR 14 YEARS. 
Introduction. — The trawling experiments were commenced by 
Aid. Dent, Chairman of the Northumberland Committee, in 1892, 
with the intention of reporting to the Committee whether the 
inshore waters were likely to benefit from the byelaw, passed in the 
previous year, prohibiting trawling within the district. When they 
were placed in my hands in 1896 I thought it advisable not to 
interfere with the general nature of the experiments, so that they 
have been conducted for the whole period in practically the same 
manner. 
Whatever value they may possess, it is only right and to me a 
pleasure to acknowledge with grateful thanks the help received in 
making the experiments by constant association with Mr. Dent. 
The earlier experiments were made with the " Livingstone " and 
the later with the "Stanley" — steamers, both belonging to Mr. 
Dent, who placed them at our service, and equipped them for the 
purpose. 
The trawl nets used have all been of similar construction, and 
the length of beam has been throughout the same, viz. : 22 feet. 
The experiments have been made during the summer months each 
year, — more exactly from the latter part of June to about the middle 
of September — along lines parallel to and close to the shore in 
denned stations within the Committee's district. 
The stations were shown on a chart in the report for 1903, 
and from north to south, are : — 
Distance between 
Name of Bay 
Length of 
Stations. 
= Station. 
Depth. 
Station. 
Goswick Bay 
2-5 fathoms... 
3 miles. 
5 miles 
Skate Roads 
.. 2f4 
,, ... 
Qfi 
■iff >, 
15 „ 
Alnmouth Bay 
.. 2-3 
,, tit 
3 „ 
4 „ 
5 „ 
Druridge Bay 
.. 2-3 
,, 
H ,> 
2 „ 
Cambois Bay 
.. 2-3 
,, ... 
n » 
Blyth bay ... 
.. 2-5 
,, ... 
i 5 
The following was the general procedure on each occasion. The 
steamer started from Blyth on the arrival of the morning train, and 
trawling was commenced immediately the station chosen was 
reached. The catch obtained at the first haul was measured, every ■ 
fish useful or otherwise being thus recorded. Thereafter the 
