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INVESTIGATIONS IN FORTE, 1890 AND 1891
1437
._
larger number than the two previous years, the
_
1886 being per haul——15, 28 (1887), 18 (1888), 16 (1889) and
_
20 (1890). About one-half were saleable in 1890. The species
forms a
favourite food of many shes,’and its apparent increase
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'
is not objectiona‘ble.
__
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—
The important lemon—dab shows a tendency to diminish
during the ve years.
Thus in 1886 the average per haul
”;,
,
16; in 1887, 437; in 1888, 17; in 1889,'11; and this year only
9 per haul, or a total of 771.
It is not an abundant
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though generally distributed, and
a rule, ' ?
_unfavourable for trawling. _It is often caught by the linérs‘,
_
and in St Andrews 30 years ago was less eSteem‘ed
plaice of the same size. No great weight is to be attached ;to]
the apparent diminution.
,
‘
,
“
The grey gurnard had the same average, viz. 9 per haul,
the loWest that had“ occurred in the series, but such small
numbers may be due as much to the habit of the shes as
any marked general diminution in their numbers.
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'
,
All the stations showed an increase on the previous year
except Station IV. (the line along the shore towardsGul—lane
The average increase per haul (saleable and unsaleablé);
of the food-shes found on each from I. to IX. is as folloWS;‘-.—‘
increase of 36, 78,142, diminution of 133 (IV.), increase of 128,‘
3, 179, 197, 78.
,
.
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,
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‘
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,
That with an increase of 27
1891 the total number
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of shes should be" reduced to 18,012 or less by 258 than in
.
»_
1890 is sufcient proof that the work wa‘s' less productive. It
is true that an additional winter month (January) handicaps…
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1891, but this is more' or less balanced by the captures 1n
June, a month absent in
The average perhaul on le
total is 169
62 less than in 1890.
13,325 or 125 per
Were saleable, and 4,687, or 41 per. …h_aul, —unsaleable. “Every
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month of ”the year was represented, _th0ugh Ï;noÿ all*by
.
…
equivalent number of hauls.
…
_
«
_
,
that,
anmstauce®fthwomadmundshesmeg
dimim‘shed