this battle for priority between the (lab and the plaice, since the 
former is usually considered rather better than the latter. But the 
large size of the plaice, and its wide distribution over the North 
Sea, in contrast to the small size and limited coastal distribution 
of the dab, give the outlook a grave colour, for if the plaice lose its 
dominant place in-shore where the first years of its life are spent, it 
must be due to the fact that the fish is becoming scarce in tbe 
North Sea, as a whole. 
Turbot present the small average this year of 4, which is below 
that of most of the years. Not so very many years ago turbot were 
plentiful, especially during the herring season ; the in-shore fisher 
men get very few now-a-days, but the Shields trawlers procure 
pretty good catches. There is no doubt, however, as we pointed 
out last year that the turbot must now be looked upon as a rare 
fish in-shore, where it used to be obtained in large numbers. 
Four brill were captured during the season. We never get 
many brill, but the Shields trawlers capture about 15 to 1H tons a 
year. I do not suppose it was at any time common in-shore. 
The sole this year averaged 14, an increase on the catches for 
the last two years. It is satisfactory that this fish has been able to 
recover its position to some extent in-shore, but it is almost as rare 
as it is valuable. 
Flounders averaged 6 this year, a number which is about equal 
to the average of previous years. 
The average catch of flat fish for this season was 281, as com- 
pared with 220 for last year. It is the highest, average yet recorded, 
but the increase is due to the large catches of dabs. Plaice, as we 
have noted, have diminished in numbers. Nevertheless, the increase 
in the catches of flat fishes is well worth noting. These are the 
forms which, with the gurnards, almost exclusively inhabit the 
smooth areas along the coast. At the present time, with the excep- 
tion of the plaice, these flat fishes occur in these places in both 
immature and mature condition. They pass the first years of their 
existence close in-sliore, and return to some extent after spawning. 
The protection afforded them evidently amply justifies the continua- 
tion of the restriction imposed upon trawlers. We ought to 
remember, however, that nearly all the fishes when they become 
mature leave the in-shore waters for the unrestricted fishing grounds 
in deeper water at the spawning season, so that after all the 
restriction benefits the trawler more than the line fisherman. We 
cannot help reflecting, therefore, that the restriction does not convey 
