7 
was almost double that of the second. It bears out what has been 
remarked upon before that the season's catch in all the bays was 
showing a gradual improvement. In prime fish as well as plaice 
there was a large increase during the season, but the improvement 
was particularly striking in the case of the dabs. The fishing was 
very clean, as only once did a large quantity of weed get into the 
trawl. The weed as is often the case was swarming with ampliipods, 
mainly Pnrati/lus suiammerdami (M. Edwd). It is this form also 
which is found in large numbers on the nets, and in the boats 
during the salmon season. A five-bearded rockling was also 
brought in by the trawl. 
On the 30th, both Cambois and Blyth Bays were tried, the 
former for five hours (four hauls), and the latter for one hour (one 
haul). The weather was rather disagreeable. For the greater part 
of the day there was a strong westerly wind, heavy showers were 
frequent,- and a swell was rolling in from the east. It is plain that 
here the general improvement referred to continued. This improve- 
ment culminated in an excellent return for Alnmouth Bay on 
September Gth, when the highest figure for that bay was recorded. 
Five hauls were made in splendid weather, the sea being perfectly 
calm. The improved numbers for plaice and dab are very marked, 
as may be seen on comparing the returns for the first visit. 
The results so far as the keepable fishes are concerned, and the 
same remarks apply to the small fish as well, may be summed up 
by saying that a gradual improvement in the catch took place from 
the beginning to the end of the season. There were relatively fewer 
fishes along the coast at the beginning of the summer than at the 
end. 
What the reason of this may be it is very difficult, with our 
present means of investigation to say. It seemed in the early part 
of the season to be correlated in some way with the temperature and 
the direction of the wind. But such a gradual change extending 
over the whole season cannot satisfactorily be referred to such 
influences. If we had some reliable information as to the relative 
numbers of fishes at other seasons than the summer, and compara- 
tive trials at one or two olf-shore stations, the local factors of 
migration could be better stated. We ought, moreover, to be 
provided with apparatus for making accurate determinations of 
density and temperature at different depths. 
The experiences of the line fishermen seem to show that during 
the winter “ a few ” haddocks and codlings, are added to these 
