24 
With regard to the wider question as to whether our experiments 
throw any light upon the conditions of the near North Sea, it 
ought to be said that our results this year agree with the general 
experiences of fishermen, and also with the conditions as shown by 
the Board of Trade returns for the year, and for the three months 
during which the experiments were made. The exceptional nature 
of the season has thus affected the in-sliore waters as well as the 
larger area outside our district. 
Our results show, however, that even though the season has 
been a generally good one, the increase has been very conspicuous 
in Druridge Bay and Blyth Bay, slight in Cambois Bay, and there 
was actually a slight decrease evident for Almnouth Bay. 
THE FOOD, SEX, AND DEGREE OF MATURITY 
OF THE FISHES. 
This year, an additional column is provided m the following 
table (Table VI.) giving the weights of the fishes. The fishes, 
examined as in former years, with regard to their food, sex, and 
degree of maturity, were at the same time carefully measured and 
weighed. These latter records will be used for stating the progress 
made in growth. 
In the meantime it is only necessary to draw attention to the 
mature female plaice of 14f ins. caught on August 20th, and to the 
fact that this year plaice were often feeding on young sand-eels. 
Dabs, as before, presented great difficulties in determining their 
condition with regard to maturity. For example, a female obtained 
on July 23, measuring 13f ins. was from all appearances immature, 
while others, very much smaller, were obtained during the summer 
with opaque ova. It will be seen that a dab was caught which had 
been feeding on young sand-eels, and another which had a much 
digested fish in her stomach. 
The food of a group of ten anglers caught on 2nd July was: 
4, empty ; 1, whiting; 1, plaice ; 1, plaice and sand-eel ; 2, weavers; 
1, flat fish. A 1G in. angler got on 9th July was found which had 
fed on 3 gurnards and a dab. On 16th July, the anglers were feed- 
ing on sand-eels, dabs in two instances, and haddocks in one example. 
A mackerel, got by the line on August 20, measured 17 inches, 
weighed 1 lb. 10 ozs.; it was a male, and had* been feeding on sand- 
eels. 
We may add to this that Mr. Dent observed that the sea 
trout he caught this season were feeding on sprats and sand-eels 
for the most part. 
