9 
It would be premature to speculate on these results until we see 
what another season’s visit to the grounds discloses. The results 
of this year will be hard to beat, and we shall therefore look forward 
with much interest to a future trial at Goswick Sands. But, in this 
connection, it is interesting to note that the district as a whole has 
improved in Hat fishes, especially in plaice and dabs, since these 
experiments were commenced. This improvement has been more 
marked in the last three or four years, and thus we are in a position 
to say that the closing of these in-shore waters to trawlers has 
resulted in a benefit to the district. On the other hand, the most 
valuable Hat fishes — the turbots and soles— are, I am sorry to say, 
seeming to decrease in numbers, which are never large, every year. 
The Fish retained, as in previous years, consisted for the most 
part of plaice and dabs, and of these the plaice have practically 
always occupied the premier position. But occasionally the figures 
in a single day’s fishing present a larger proportion of dabs. This is 
the case for instance this year at Druridge Bay, when we recorded 
150 dabs and only 70 plaice. 
Last year I drew attention to the size of the plaice. In many of 
the bays the plaice were often what might be called deep-sea fish. 
Bucli large fish this season were just as conspicuous by their 
absence. It was only at Skate Roads and at Druridge Bay, in the 
early part of the summer, that fairly large plaice were obtained, and 
again at Goswick Sands the plaice were medium in size, though not all 
those retained were mature. The season as a whole did not furnish, 
however, such sizes as were recorded last year. This will be evident 
in the notes on the sizes on page 14. 
The dabs on the other hand this year were very often excellent 
large fish. 
The bays continue to furnish good turbot and soles, though in 
declining numbers. 
THE MATURE v. THE IMMATURE FISH. 
Following out the plan begun in 1896, and continued last year, 
an attempt was made to indicate the proportion between the fish 
retained and those returned to the water. To avoid complications, 
it was decided last year that this determination should be made if 
possible at the first haul. And this course was successfully pursued 
in all cases except one, when, through an accident to the gear twice 
in succession, the counting was postponed until the third haul. 
The results are presented in the following tables : — 
