9 
first dredging trip of the « Evadne ” was made to this ground on 
December 3rd, 1909, and in some ten minutes the catch was found 
to be : — 
Six small Whitings. 
Atlierine or Sand Smelt, Atherina presbyter, 11.8 cm. 
Sprat, 6.5 cm. 
Shrimps. 
Pleurobracliia, in immense numbers. 
This Atherine is the first one which has been reported from the 
N.E. coast. 
On March 3rd, 1910, with the same net on the same ground, 
the catch was : — 
Herrings, average 10.5 cm. 
Sprats, average 7.5 cm. 
Gobies, Gobius minutus, 5+ cm. 
Small Whitings. 
„ Cod. 
„ Dab. 
Father Lasher, Cottus scorpius. 
Pipe Fish, Syngnathus acus. 
Post larval herring. 
Shrimps, Amphipods and Molluscs, including Doris 
depressa. 
These are the kind of fish which constitute whitebait, and it is 
interesting to know that in the early part of the year there is this 
congregation of the young stages of so many important species so 
close to the shore. 
These preliminary trials are of importance since they serve to 
show that at the time when the dominant summer fish of the 
inshore regions have left the district, the waters still retain the very 
small flat fish, round fish, and pelagic fish. It is at this period 
also that the important gadoids approach the shore waters in still 
relatively large numbers. 
PELAGIC LIFE . — It is not necessary to give full particulars- 
at present of the plankton observed during the season. The most 
interesting feature was the presence in even larger numbers in 
the surface water than in the previous season of Euthemisto cmv- 
pressa,. Large examples of this Amphipod, including many berried 
females, were also cast on shore at various times during March to 
May. They were scattered over the beach in countless numbers. 
