1 _NVEST1GATIONS IN sr ANDREWS BAY,—18‘88—=—.“89.
115
1888 again demonstrates the uncertainty of shing and of '
statistics, at least as regards preconceived views. The reporters observe, with truth, that the diminution in 1888 was
chiey due to the flat shes, and it is found that the average
catch per shot in 1887 was for plaice 144, and for dabs 1245,
whereas in 1888 the averages are 106 and 9% respectively. The
meagre captures of dabs and plaice at the outer station (V.) 113
1886 gave the reporters a basis for remarking that here round
shes had diminished but at shes had increased in
The uncertainty of such observations, however,must always-be …
borne in mind.
_
_
.
'
If we glance at two important shes, viz'. turb0t and brillf
during the three years,
and taking the saleable and unsaleab‘le
together, it is found that13 turbot and 2 brill were got iii}1887
turbot in 1888 but no brill, while the rst year (1886)
only 2 turbot and 1 brill were procured. These small gures_
follow the rule of the larger, but give no
The inuence of a month like December
reducing“thë
’
percentage per haul of the shes is clearly shown in
if we deduct the small number procured in this m0nth (atotal
of only 157 in ve hauls) from” the result, and take the
.
of the rest it is found
the remaining 20 hauls giVe nôless
—
than 334« per haul, a result only a very little behind the condition in 1887 (389 per haul). The bearing of
;
be clearly sh0wn in subsequent pages.
'
'
‘
—
'Ï
This year the Board sanctioned the
the area in
St Andrews Bay by a powerful steam—traWler1 in Feb1ua1y,
but no systematic table of results is given. FÎVe boXes" of
pla-ice, the largest specimeh 17 inches and the average
__
13 inches, and a few other shes were obtaiuèdin one haul,and
.
about two boxes of mixed shes in a second
of
1101118
'The lines taken in this case do not
ductive.
At least a small
not unequentlÿ
'
In 1889 a considerable increase mthe]ïlmbel0flehauls
of the
took place, viz. nine mœethanm188makmga