13 
Notes on the Fish Fauna in General. 
Flounders occur in relatively small numbers at all the stations 
<cept Alnmouth Bay where they are more numerous. These with 
ie plaice and dabs are generally distributed in the bays, the turbot 
Beet the part nearer the shore as a rule in company with plaice, 
nd the soles occur most usually at the ends of the bays near the 
)cks. One or two small lemon dabs have been caught on several 
L^casions. 
The fish other than flat fish are, with the exception of gurnards, 
ot so constant in their occurrence during the months when the 
xperinients are made, and in one or two instances present remark- 
ble variations to which reference may now be made. 
During the earlier years of the experimental period the hauls 
'ere characterised by the presence of large numbers of dog fish, 
[emthias vulgaris. Since about 1898 not one specimen of this form 
as been seen at the experiments. On the other hand, the angler, 
apkius fiscatorius, has become more numerous, although this latter 
3rm has not been got constantly in these inshore regions at the 
xperinaents. The dogfish and the anglers are all immature 
lamples. Skate, that is to say, thornbacks, Raia clacata, are pro- 
ami in small numbers every year. 
Other species which are obtained now and again are the lesser 
veever, Trachinus viper a, and more rarely the greater weever, 
trachinus draco, the armed bullhead, Ai/onus oatapkractu*, and the 
innpsucker, Cyclo/iterus lumpits (small examples). 
The gurnards caught by the trawl and the line at the exped- 
ients range from small immature to mature, and are all common 
>r grey gurnards, Trigla gwrnardm. In 1902, however, in Blyth Bay, 
here were caught 5 sapphirine gurnards, and only one of the common 
pecies, and in the following year, again in Blyth Bay, one sapphirine 
furnard was caught, which from its size appeared to have been a 
survivor of those which had accidentally visited the bay in the 
previous year. 
Gadoids are apparently not common in the regions trawled in, 
codling, haddocks, whiting only being rarely caught. They seem to 
ia\e been more common in the earlier part of the period. Shoals 
>f small whiting visit the bays during the summer [v. section on 
tood.) Occasionally cole-fish and lythe are procured. 
