206
INVESTIGATIONS IN MORAY FRITH, 1897.
of the incursions of foreign ships.
It has also been proved that
ne haddocks were in great numbers beyond the closed area.
The diminution, therefore, was local diminution, a feature of
perennial occurrence in all seas.
The maximum month, so far as the statistics go, for haddocks
on
the enter stations (VH. to XVI.), which may now be con—
sidered, was also October, and the average for this month is
about double that next in order, viz. May, while July, August,
November and June follow with diminishing averages 1.
The
total average
for the outer stations is more than six times
that for the inner.
The average for the rst year (1893) was 97 haddocks per
haul, the work being done in May and October, months having
the highest averages for this sh in the returns.
Next year a
great increase occurred, viz. an average
of 158 per haul, the
experiments having been carried out in October and July, the
latter having an average
of 63.
Next year (1895) the average -
fell to about a third of the last—mentioned, viz. 52, the workingperiods being in July and August, the latter having an average
of 89, and thus the captures correspond with what may be
termed the normal.
In 1896, a diminution, due to other causes
than those connected with the periods, had taken place.
A
similar reduction is present in the captures by the liners.
In
1897, work was carried on in June and November, months
having an average of 20 and 25.
The actual captures gave an
average
of 17, the lowest in the series, or 5 under the normal.
The returns of the liners also show a diminution.
In respect to the haddock, therefore, there is little to satisfy
the country, and especially men of science, as to the propriety
of the closure of this great area.
If experience, indeed, did not
show that variations in areas are common, and that no lack of
haddocks existed in hundreds of square miles beyond the area,
the Fishery Board, so far as the work of the “Garland” is
concerned, is confronted with anything but success in its
efforts to increase the products of the sea by controlling the
“
spawning grounds.”
Of the other shes the lemon—dab was twice as common as
1
No work was carried on in April and September on the outer stations.
INVESTIGATIONS IN MORAY FRITH, 1897.
of the incursions of foreign ships.
It has also been proved that
ne haddocks were in great numbers beyond the closed area.
The diminution, therefore, was local diminution, a feature of
perennial occurrence in all seas.
The maximum month, so far as the statistics go, for haddocks
on
the enter stations (VH. to XVI.), which may now be con—
sidered, was also October, and the average for this month is
about double that next in order, viz. May, while July, August,
November and June follow with diminishing averages 1.
The
total average
for the outer stations is more than six times
that for the inner.
The average for the rst year (1893) was 97 haddocks per
haul, the work being done in May and October, months having
the highest averages for this sh in the returns.
Next year a
great increase occurred, viz. an average
of 158 per haul, the
experiments having been carried out in October and July, the
latter having an average
of 63.
Next year (1895) the average -
fell to about a third of the last—mentioned, viz. 52, the workingperiods being in July and August, the latter having an average
of 89, and thus the captures correspond with what may be
termed the normal.
In 1896, a diminution, due to other causes
than those connected with the periods, had taken place.
A
similar reduction is present in the captures by the liners.
In
1897, work was carried on in June and November, months
having an average of 20 and 25.
The actual captures gave an
average
of 17, the lowest in the series, or 5 under the normal.
The returns of the liners also show a diminution.
In respect to the haddock, therefore, there is little to satisfy
the country, and especially men of science, as to the propriety
of the closure of this great area.
If experience, indeed, did not
show that variations in areas are common, and that no lack of
haddocks existed in hundreds of square miles beyond the area,
the Fishery Board, so far as the work of the “Garland” is
concerned, is confronted with anything but success in its
efforts to increase the products of the sea by controlling the
“
spawning grounds.”
Of the other shes the lemon—dab was twice as common as
1
No work was carried on in April and September on the outer stations.