184
INVESTIGATIQNS IN FORTE, SUMMARY.
been nearer each other, there would have been an increase
instead of a diminution, as in the case of shes of all kinds in
_
the Forth.
The conclusion1 therefore “that there has been a
decrease in the abundance of flat shes in the closed waters of
the Forth” rests on the most uncertain foundations, and is of
little moment in dealing with so large a question, especially
when there is appended to it the theory that the cause is the
over—shing of the offshore waters in the neighbourhood.
In the second period (1891—1895) the hauls were grouped
as follows, viz., 214« in the warmer months and 219 in the colder
months, or 5 in favour of the colder months.
The very large
number of hauls in the warmer months probably gave a total so
substantial that not even the numerous hauls in the colder
months could reduce the average, especially since round shes
were a prominent feature of the area, and occasionally occurred
in these colder months in considerable numbers.
If the three
very productive months of July, August, and September in each
period are taken, it is found that in the rst period
1890) there were 16 hauls in July, 35 in August, and
in
September, or a total of 75 hauls, whereas in the second period
8Æ occurred in July, 38 in August, and 35 in September,
making a total of 107.
Out of the six colder months only one
blank period (in November) occurred, whereas there were ve
blanks in the warmer months.
The fact, however, that there
was no
falling off under these more equally balanced circumstances
of warmer and colder months argues well for the
food—shes of the Forth, and gives no ground for despairing
of the situation.
1
1417c Report S. F. B. p. 138.
INVESTIGATIQNS IN FORTE, SUMMARY.
been nearer each other, there would have been an increase
instead of a diminution, as in the case of shes of all kinds in
_
the Forth.
The conclusion1 therefore “that there has been a
decrease in the abundance of flat shes in the closed waters of
the Forth” rests on the most uncertain foundations, and is of
little moment in dealing with so large a question, especially
when there is appended to it the theory that the cause is the
over—shing of the offshore waters in the neighbourhood.
In the second period (1891—1895) the hauls were grouped
as follows, viz., 214« in the warmer months and 219 in the colder
months, or 5 in favour of the colder months.
The very large
number of hauls in the warmer months probably gave a total so
substantial that not even the numerous hauls in the colder
months could reduce the average, especially since round shes
were a prominent feature of the area, and occasionally occurred
in these colder months in considerable numbers.
If the three
very productive months of July, August, and September in each
period are taken, it is found that in the rst period
1890) there were 16 hauls in July, 35 in August, and
in
September, or a total of 75 hauls, whereas in the second period
8Æ occurred in July, 38 in August, and 35 in September,
making a total of 107.
Out of the six colder months only one
blank period (in November) occurred, whereas there were ve
blanks in the warmer months.
The fact, however, that there
was no
falling off under these more equally balanced circumstances
of warmer and colder months argues well for the
food—shes of the Forth, and gives no ground for despairing
of the situation.
1
1417c Report S. F. B. p. 138.