The four charts published in this number, being for the months of May, June, July, and August, form a continuation, of the series of reports commenced in the last number (vol. ii, No. 3) and are intended to show the position of the fishing fleets.

The same symbols have been used, which, for convenience, are again given below.

I do not propose to attempt a full description of each month's fishing, but rather let the charts explain themselves, giving only a few necessary notes on the dates of the movements of shoals, which may be of use on a subsequent occasion.

The meteorological observations at Plymouth Navigation School, carried on for a period of more than twenty-six years by Dr. J. Merrifield, ceased on his death in June last. It seemed desirable that Plymouth should not be without an observing station, and as the Association was undertaking other work of a similar nature it was decided to begin observations on the scale of a station of the second order.

Polyprion cernium, Val.—Two specimens of this fish, the stone basse or wreck-fish, were obtained on September 21st. The one was sent by Mr. Dunn, of Mevagissey, the other captured by hook and line off Plymouth. The first specimen measured 19½ inches, the second 20½ inches.

The observations given below are by Mr. William Roach (Series I), Associate Member M. B. A., and by Mr. H. Roach (Series II), the fishennan of the Association. The observations are taken partly in Plymouth Sound and partly on the fishing grounds a few miles to the eastward. A careful comparison of the two sets during the same periods does not show any local differences, and as the observations are true sea temperatures throughout, it is unnecessary to state the positions more definitely.

Iintroductory Statement

In these reports I shall not take into consideration the mMBIr methods of fishing which are practised in the locality, such, for instance, as eel spearing, mullet trapping, shrimp and prawn fishing, but shall confine myself to the most important branches, in which the beam trawl, drift and seine nets, and long lines are employed, and I shall also include crab and lobster fishing.

With reference to the class of boats employed in this neighbourhood, the trawlers, compared to those of the North Sea, are not of large size. The average boat is about forty-three tons. They are usually rigged as ketches (dandy-rig), but the smaller ones sometimes as cutters. The dandy-rig is preferred because with it there is not the very large mainsail and heavy boom of the cutter, and also because, like the yawl, where the mizzen mast is stepped behind instead of before the stern-post, the vessel can be more easily brought under easy canvas in heavy weather. These vessels only carry four men and a boy as crew, and therefore the question of ease in handling becomes one of great importance. Steam trawling is not practised from Plymouth, nor do the sailing trawlers fish in the “fleeting” system common in the North Sea, where many boats belong to one company and remain on the fishing grounds it may be for weeks, while their fish is carried to market by special steamers.

At Plymouth each trawler is worked independently, goes out to the fishing grounds east of the Eddystone, Mounts Bay, or Bristol Channel, and returns with its catch.

Ashort time ago I received from my friend Mr. J. T. Cunningham a Cephalopod which had been taken by a trawler in the neighbourhood of Plymouth, with the remark that it appeared to fit well with the description of Ommastrephes eblanæ (Ball) as given by Forbes and Hanley, and that it undoubtedly belonged to the genusIllex of Steenstrup.

Under Gadus esmarkii, for “30 to 50 fathoms cable” read “30 to 50 fathoms ca.” (circa).

TheBulletin of the United States Fish Commission for 1889 contains a report upon a physical investigation of the waters off the southern coast of New England in the schooner Grampus during the summer of 1889, by Professor W. Libbey of Princeton College. This forms the first instalment of a series which promises to throw much light on the relations of temperature and salinity to the distribution of fishes and their food, and was itself directly suggested by researches upon the shad and the menhaden.

The observations cover the area between lat. 39° N. and lat. 41° 10′ N., and long. 70° W. to long. 71° 30′ W., soundings being obtained as nearly as possible every 10′ along lines 10′ apart. At each station a very complete series of temperature observations was made, and samples were collected at surface, bottom, and in the deeper soundings at an intermediate point. The specific gravities of these samples were determined by means of a Kilgard salMBImeter.

The temperature profiles along meridians of longitude are of great interest, extending as they do from near the coast over the edge of the continental plateau into deep water. The bathy-isothermal line of 50° F. shows a remarkable curvature off the continental platform, which the report says “would seem to point to a mechanical intrusion of cold water from the surface of the continental platform.” The conclusion is confirmed by the specific gravity observations; and the report goes on to say, “The existence of this body of warm water off the continental edge may offer an explanation of the richness of this particular spot in all forms of marine life, as shown by the successful dredging of the Albatross upon it.”

On the Occurrence of the Nudibranch Hancockia at Plymouth.—I am glad to be able to record a second English specimen of this interesting form. It was dredged, apparently on Delesseria, in Plymouth Sound, about halfway between Drake's Island and the west end of the Breakwater, on August 20th, 1891.