21 
The results for the three years may be thus summarized. 
PLAICE. 
4 
5 
6 
7 
Inches. 
8 9 10 11 
12 
13 
14 
IS 16 17 
18 
1899 
... .. 
. 1 
. 8 -( 5 .. 
. 7 - 8 ... 
7- 1 ... 4-4 .. 4 - 7 . .. 4 - 7 .. 
,. 3(5 
. 3 - 5 ... 
2 - 0 . 
.. 1 - 4 ... 0 - 1...01 . 
. 
1900 
... 1-2 . 
,. 10-4 . 
11 - 7 ... 
12.2 . 8 . 3 . .. 4 - 2 . .. 4 . 2 . 
.. 2 - 8 . 
.. 2 - 5 .. 
. 1 ( 5 . 
.. 1 - 5 ... 0 - 7 ... 0-2 
— 
1901 
... 1 - 7 .. 
. 1 ( 5-2 . 
. 170 .. 
. 1 . 5-2 .. 
7 - 7 ... 6-:5 . 71 . .. 4-5 
.. 4-1 
. 1 - 7 .. 
. 0 - 7 . 
.. 0 - 2 . .. 0 - 1. ..01 
. 01 
These figures represent the average catch of each size per haul, 
and they show tliat while the very small and immature plaice have 
increased that the larger sizes have decreased. 
For dabs the corresponding figures are : — 
4 
S 
6 
7 
8 
9 10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
1899 
. 01.. 
. 10 .. 
. 29 .. 
. 16 - 6 .. 
,. 14-11 . 
.(5-5 3-5 , 
. 1 - 2 .. 
..0-2. 
..0-7. 
..0-2, , 
,.o-i. 
.. — 
1900 . 
..2-2 . 
6*9.. 
. 4 - 3 .. 
. < 5 - 3 .. 
,. ( 5 - 1 ... 
.( 5 - 0 ... 4 - 2 .. 
.20., 
,. 0-5 . 
. 0.2 . 
0-2.. 
.01.. 
..0-2 
1901 . 
.. 0 - 3 .. 
. 1-8 
2-8.. 
. 5 - 4 .. 
,. 61 .. 
. 3 - 9 ... 2-1 . 
00. 
..0-0., 
..O.8.. 
..0-2.. 
.. — ., 
..01 
In the latter case the numbers show rather a diminution in the 
catch in the younger stages as compared with the older. It would 
he premature, however, to attempt to draw any conclusion from 
these tables. 
THE FOOD, SEX, AND DEGREE OF MATURITY 
OF TIIE FISHES. 
The observations made on the food and the condition with 
regard to maturity in relation to size of the fishes examined are 
presented in the following table (Table VII). 
Plaice. — While as before the food on the whole is molluscan, 
annelids and amphipods are in request as well, and in the stomach 
of one of the larger forms a weever was found. 
It now seems clear from our observations that plaice may become 
mature when they reach a length of 16 inches, but in some cases 
the condition is not attained until they measure over 17 inches. 
See also report for 1899. 
Dab. — Portunus holsntm, the livid swimming crab, is what we 
usually expect the dabs to be feeding upon, but a molluscan and 
even an ampliipod diet was found this year not unfrequently. In 
one example the stomach contained a sand eel. 
As before we have failed to discover the usual signs of maturity 
in dabs even up to 12^ inches in length. In one case, however, 
opaque ova were observed in a dab measuring Ilf inches, but 
another female at the same time of the same size was found to be 
immature or to all appearances immature. 
An Angles dissected on August 14 was found to have been feeding 
upon whitings. 
