21 
Plah’b. — The only really mature plaice obtained at the lirst 
haul was one each at Almnouth Bay and Cambois Bay. If the 
limit were fixed at 12 inches, that is to say, if we assume 
that all fish might be retained which are 12 inches and over, 
though those from 12 to 10 inches must be held to be immature, 
a glance over the tables will serve to illustrate two facts which have 
been pointed out before. (1) The increase in those above 12 inches 
was accompanied by an increase in those below 12 inches; (2) this 
increase was a gradual one from the beginning of the season’s 
fishing to the end, but was most marked as regards those over 12 
inches at the last three excursions. A large proportion of mature 
forms was got at Druridge Bay on 23rd August, in the succeeding 
hauls to that recorded in the above table, but the season as a whole 
has been remarkable in the paucity of plaice of the mature size (in 
this connection see last two reports). 
Dab. — In the case of the dab on the other hand, assuming that 
Holt’s size is the correct one for the mature condition in the North 
Sea, the large majority of those caught are mature. Even if we 
increase the size by an inch or so, the proportion of mature is still 
very large. This shows that in the in-shore waters, the dab occurs 
to a marked extent in the mature condition. We have seen that it 
spawns there, and we not only get the ova and the mature 
fish, but a large number of the smaller sizes as well. 
The other forms I do not propose to discuss on this occasion, 
but the value of these records will be more apparent when we can 
compare them with similar figures for successive years. 
PELAGIC OVA. 
As in former years, the floating life including the eggs of such 
lishes as spawn in or near the district was investigated by means of 
a surface, and a mid-water net. The former was towed near to 
the surface, and the latter was attached to the beam of the trawl. 
The main results are tabulated below. It will be seen that the 
weever was breeding freely in the district during June and the early 
part of July. On July 26th, one egg each of the weever, dab and 
gurnard was obtained, after which date no more pelagic eggs were 
found. This is in entire agreement with our previous reports. 
Very few eggs of the dab were procured, but a fair number of the 
eggs of the gurnard and five-bearded rockling. 
