34 
considered so trustworthy, however, from the fact that usually bad 
weather and a stormy sea made the choice of this bay adjacent to 
the port of Blyth inevitable. 
These considerations show that were we to leave out Skate 
Roads and Blyth Bay, the general conclusions with regard to the 
results of the experiments would not suffer. In the meantime, the 
question may be left with the statement that plaice and dabs have 
been caught at the experiments in gradually increasing numbers up 
to 1902-3, since when there has been a falling off. 
But it is reasonable, all the same, to conclude from what we now 
know with regard to the migration of the fiat fish, that such a pro- 
tection to the small immature fish, reared in the district, as is 
afforded by the byelaw prohibiting trawling would inferentially in- 
crease the population of fish which do not leave the area. 
The previous analysis into fortnightly periods, and especially the 
facts presented in Table IX. (see Chart 3) show also that in the 
case of plaice especially, the improvement which has been ex- 
perienced during the period of investigation is brought about mainly 
by the August- September immigration into the regions where the 
stations are situated. 
First Haul. 4. — Distribution of Flat Fish. 
During the first two or three years I was connected with the 
experiments, notes were made as to the numbers of the smaller 
sizes of fish captured, but from 1899 the fish caught in the first 
haul have been measured and recorded completely. It was tried to 
make this haul of an hour's duration, and where this was not 
possible, the figures, as those for the complete experiment, have 
been reduced to that standard. They are set forth in Table XL, 
and are expressed likewise in Chart 2. 
As was pointed out in the report for 1901, the first haul is not 
always in agreement with the complete experiment, but with 
reference to the relative numbers of the flat fishes, it has to be re- 
called that while the latter deals with the marketable fishes, the 
former is made to record the total number of each species caught 
by the trawl. The complete experiments refer to the results 
obtained in from six to. ten hours' trawling, and to fish chosen in a 
rule of thumb method as ' marketable,' the first haul gives the 
exact number, and the sizes of all the fish which are caught in 
about an hour's trawling. 
