. “a Na aN by ad vee Ri Be: MA iy on ee \ ‘ eee = Se cepmce sams mercer. iY ; a BRON / RNR ‘ DORAL a . a ah | } ay A ¢ ; a x ; ea Loe RD nine fits ras Sante BESS ees aortas cases esa Gees Besson Reece rn sae ' Se KS a Reon N si a Es s : oe a ns a ‘ ma a Nii ea . . a = See Dae Saiaoeeenn ene f Wan Mi si ae Ni We uh vi Ni peti x AN : | a Beas iS A aa / dink ae Hen eh sibat i os | ey AN AOS ‘ . i} a a oF a ' a . . Hah vi ae ae . a Oe ‘ ae ain eS - = on. Ge ON vf! » BY ih AG OARS ARE ah ty Bie BS aa oe K Sent Beas Soa hy Bee aed Ss E Oe aS mee Soe ops et ace EE te Seer 2 ND Ny ie RR a . oe ee AN wa i * 1 : Nae AUR { a x ante i ~ y vu Re TAR Ai v Bi HG math j ae ssa Baas ue > : Ses ANAS a eres riere az a a pare Svc es, SS Stes ea Z ae . ae ss ong — SS —- ee nO ene ieee — fore Caen - see ae Bee eee PPI eee Tamer Sean o aren. nate i {vid ae a ey one ave pe eye Fs etn Se bo EY earn ES sy Se “ . Me ane cau GOR) oe Hs Sie Sacre Sea LG Berean rs ie, =, See Ste Lae a > mene Prof oe ee ets % i aise pe ROE eee SEAS s Sega ae i a . . oe z . 3 as ce ae Ga : . An . PaaS So i a zay wy eur : i ae a ue - a a toh Paeat 7 A . A AN Nee OC * NE Sy Sa . er bes : AT GER Hae nt San oo ea ge ARS eee Ie rag om ar pps Bat dw sah Pa’) yaar int tae fi ae is fae it) ber} TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FISHERY BOARD FOR SCOTLAND, Being for the Year 1903. Part II.—REPORT ON SALMON FISHERIES, Part III].—SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS. PART II].—SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS. Presented to both houses of Parliament by Command of his Majesty. Se. oO, PR, A, I> GLASGOW: ee PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE ry By JAMES HEDDERWICK & SONS, & At ‘*THe Crrizen Press,” St. Vincent PLace. And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from OLIVER & BOYD, Epinsured ; or EYRE & SPOTTISWOODE, East Harpine Street, Freer STREET, E.C., and 32 ABINGDON STREET, WESTMINSTER, S.W. ; or iE. PONSONBY, 116 Grarron Srreet, Dustin. 1904. [Cd. 2147.] Price 5s. 2d. CONTENTS. PAGE GENERAL STATEMENT, : D Trawling Investigations, ; : ; 6 Investigations on the Rate of Gr owth of. Fishes, ; : i The Hatching and Rearing of Food-Fishes, - , 8 The Life-History of the Crab, : : ; : 9 The Young of the Witch Sole, : : ‘ : : 10 The Marine Crustacea, . : : : ; : 10 The Parasites of Fishes, . : : F ; : 11 The Young of the Conger, 5 : 11 _ Any estigations on the Herring in ‘the Firth of Clyde, : . 12: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. I. Trawling Investigations. By Dr. T. Wemyss Fulton, F.R.S.E., Superintendent of Scientific Investigations, f ‘ 13 Introductory, . 13 The Proportion of Marketable to Unimarketable Fishes, 13 The Proportion of Immature Fish Landed, _. 16 Investigations in the Moray Firth and Aberdeen Bay, 19 Table 1 eae : A 50 Table Tiley ‘ - 3 : : ‘ 89 II. Contributions to the Life-Histories of the Edible Crab (Cancer Pagurus) and of other Decapod Crustacea :—Impregna- tion : Spawning: Casting: Distribution : Rate of Growth. By H. Chas. Williamson, | M.A., D.Sc., Marine re eanep eh Aberdeen (Plates I.-V.), —. 100 The Impregnation of Cancer paguy US, 101 The Muscular System of the ‘Abdomen of the Male Crab, . ‘ 103 The Action of the Penis, . 5 = aly! The Condition of the Spermatheca, ; = 105 The Impregnation of Carcinus menas, : a £07 The Spawning of Cancer pagurus, 108 The Mode of Attachment of the Eggs to the Swimmeret, . : 108 The Swimmeret, : ‘ : : oe LO The Endopodite, : é 5 ; 2 110 The Exopodite, . : : : aa The Ripe Egg, : : ble The Attachment of the Eggs, 5 Pee ely The Sloughing of the Empty Egg- -capsules, mo L1G The Attachment of the Bess in other peau Crustacea, . 116 The Spawning of Carcinus menas, 120 The Casting, Distribution, and Rate of Growth of Cancer pagurus, . ‘ ~ Lat The Migrations of Cancer pagurus, 3 «135 The Changes i in the Carnet eS of Cancer pagures . 136 Literature, : ~ alky Explanation of the Plates, : : ‘ . 138 Contents. III. The Rate of Growth of Fishes. By Dr. T. Wemyss Fulton, F.R.S.E., Superintendent of Scientific Investigations (Plates VI.-XII.), . : : : : . leh 1. Introductory, : . AL 2. The Relation of Length to Weight, : . 142 3. The Average Size at Maturity, : ~ bo 4. The Influence of Temperature on Growth, oe enlog 5. The Sprat, . : : : : sy amealivalt 6. The Witch, . ; : : 3 . 186 7. The Norway Pout, : : ae 95 8. The Sharp-tailed Lumpenus, 202 9. Tables showing the Relation of Length to Weight, 205 IV. Notes on some rare and interesting Marine Crustacea. By Thomas Scott, LL.D., F.L.S. (Plates XIIT.-XV.), . 242 Preliminary Remarks, : ; . 242 Copepoda :— Fam. Monstrillidee, 5 . 4 . 243 Fam. Choniostomatide, 4 ; ; . 250 Amphipoda, . : : : : =) Seg Sympoda, : : : . 258 Description of the Plates, 5 : 3 . 250 V. Report on the Operations at the Marine Hatchery, Bay of Nigg, Aberdeen. By Dr. T. Wemyss Fulton, F.R.S.E. Wis intendent of Scientific Investigations, F : 262 VI. On the Post-Larval and Early Young Stages of the Witch (Pleuronectes cynoglossus, Linn.). By H. Chas. Williamson, M.A., D.Sc., Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen (Plate XVI.),. 270 VII. On some Parasites of Fishes new to the Scottish Marine Fauna. By Thomas Scott, LL.D., F.L.S. visa ene: s s g2go Preliminary Note, ‘ ; . 205 Part I. Copepoda Parasita— Fam. Dichelestide, : j ; » ) 2oab Part II. Trematoda— Fam. Tristomatide, 278 Part III. Note on a- Post- larval Fish attacked by Podon Leuckarti, . : : 279 Description of the Plates, 5 5 : . 280 VIII. Ichthyological Notes. By Dr. T. Wemyss Fulton, F.R.S.E., Superintendent of Scientific Investigations Mecca XVIII. } The Young of the Conger, ! 281 A Larval Fierasfer, : £ : : : 283 The Sting Ray, 3 ; : : 2, 2oes The Pilchard, ; : ; : OA: The Fecundity of the Sprat, : : , . 285 An Albino Plaice, ‘ £ : : 286 The Thickback (Solea var iegata), : . 286 teversed action of the Gill-cover in Plaice, 3 5 shy TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ANDREW GRAHAM MURRAY, K.C., MP, &c., His Majesty's Secretary for Scotland. OFrFicE oF THE FisHERY Boarp FOR SCOTLAND, Eprnpureu, lst July, 1904. My Lorp, In continuation of our Twenty-second Annual Report, we have the honour to submit— PART III].—SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS. GENERAL STATEMENT. This, the third part of the Twenty-second Annual Report, contains an account of the scientific investigations conducted by the Board in 1903 in connection with the sea fisheries of Scotland, so far as these have been completed, by means of the Parliamentary Vote granted for the purpose. The scientific researches have been carried on for the most part at the Board’s Marine Laboratory at the Bay of Nigg, Aberdeen, which was erected a few years ago, and where tanks have now been fitted up for various experiments and observations. The sea-fish hatchery is also situated at the same place, and a statement as to its operations during the year will be found below. The investigations into the condition of the fishing grounds, more particularly in the Moray Firth and Aberdeen Bay, which were commenced four years ago, were continued last year by means of steam-trawlers. One of the chief objects of these investigations is to ascertain the changes in the abundance of the food and other fishes in the closed waters in different years; but observations are also made on the reproduction of the fish, their spawning, food, and on various other points connected with their life-history; and collections of the plankton or floating organisms are secured, and experiments made with small-meshed and large-meshed nets. With the large trawl, the efficient ship, and the experienced trawlers in charge, it is possible to make a much more thorough examination of the bays than was formerly the case, and from the 6 Part ITI.—Twenty-second Annual Report fact that the actual trawling operations are carried on exactly as they are in commercial fishing, opportunities are thus afforded for certain observations of importance, as the proportion of the market- able and unmarketable fishes which are caught, and the destruction of immature fish on different grounds and at different seasons. TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS. In the course of the year the results of 148 hauls of the large otter-trawl were recorded, of which 101 were made in the Moray Firth and 29 in Aberdeen Bay, making 130 in the closed waters; and in addition 18 drags were recorded in the waters offshore, the aggregate thus being 148. In the Moray Firth the more important areas were examined in February, March, April, June, October, November, and December, and the grounds in Aberdeen Bay were visited in the same months. The localities in the Moray Firth which were most thoroughly examined were Burghead Bay and the Dornoch Firth, as well as Smith Bank, the grounds off Lossie- mouth, off the Suters of Cromarty, and the coast of Caithness. The total quantity of fish recorded in the course of the investi- gations was large, viz., 180,515, of which 126,485 were of a kind and size to be marketable, and 54,030 were found to be unmarket- able, either because they were of inedible varieties, or too small to be profitably sold. Those which belong to the former category are comparatively not numerous, comprising mostly long rough dabs and various odd kinds, but they may include large numbers of the angler or monk fish and gurnards, though these are very often brought to market. The great majority of the unmarketable fishes belong to edible and saleable forms, and are simply rejected because of their small size, such as small haddocks, whitings, plaice, &e. In the hauls in the inshore waters the proportion of the unmarketable fishes varied from 7-4 per cent. for cod to 78:2 per cent. for gurnards among the round fishes, and from 0°5 per cent. for brill to 89 per cent. for common dabs among the flat fishes. The percentage of unmarketable plaice was relatively large, namely, 30:3, due to the fact that the fishing was to a large extent carried on in shallow water. The proportion of the marketable and unmarketable was found to vary very greatly according to the depth of the water and the season. In the paper by Dr. Wemyss Fulton, the Scientific Superinten- dent, on this subject, will be found described also the results of an investigation on the proportion of the marketable fishes which are immature—that is, which have not yet reached a size at which reproduction takes place. The limit between the mature fishes and the immature in respect to size is first dealt with, and it is shown that in most cases it is not the average size of the generation which first becomes mature that is the true dividing line, but something under it, the precise point varying in different species according to whether the reproductive stage is reached early or late in the growth of the species. The proportion of the immature, whether regarded in terms of weight or of size, of different species brought to market varies very greatly according to the species. Among some flat-fishes, such as of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 7 the common dab, practically all that are marketable are mature, this fish becoming reproductive at a small size. Among plaice, on the other hand, which does not attain maturity until it is several years of age and of some size, the proportion of the immature amounts to about twenty-four per cent. of the marketable fishes, but with this species in particular the proportion varies much according to the chief areas of fishing. Among the witch sole the proportion amounts to about fifteen per cent., and it is still less among lemon soles, viz. about seven per cent. From the large size at which the cod first reaches maturity, the proportion of the immature that are marketable is considerable; these comprise codlings, and of the total quantity landed about thirty per cent. are sexually immature. With haddocks, and still more with whitings, the proportion is much less, these species first attaining maturity at about the size at which they become marketable. The calcula- tion in regard to haddocks shows that the proportion of the marketable which are immature is small, amounting to only about one per cent. of the quantity landed, while among whitings it is less, practically all the whitings caught by trawlers which are of marketable size being adult. It must be borne in mind, with reference to this subject, that the limit between the mature and the immature is a biological one, having reference, not to the size of the fish from the market point of view, but in relation to the size when reproduction begins. INVESTIGATIONS ON THE RATE OF GROWTH OF FISHES. In the present Report will be found a paper by Dr. T. Wemyss Fulton describing the results of his further investigations on this subject, in continuation of the researches detailed in some of the preceding Reports. In addition to the measurement of large numbers of fishes obtained during the trawling investigations by the use of a small-meshed net, numerous observations were made to determine the relation between the size and weight of fishes belonging to nineteen species, and a series of experiments were carried on to show the influence of temperature upon growth. With regard to the ratio between the length and weight of fishes, it might be assumed, without experimental evidence, that their growth was in consonance with the physical law governing the relation of similarly-shaped bodies of uniform specific gravity with regard to weight and dimensions—that the weight increased as the cube of the length, so that a fish which doubled its length should increase its weight eight times. The observations, which have been made on between 5000 and 6000 fishes, show that this law does not apply with exactitude in any of the species examined, the weight increasing in proportion more rapidly than the length, the conclu- sion being that, if the specific gravity remains the same, growth takes place to a greater extent in some other dimension than in length, whether in breadth or thickness. The various species examined displayed great differences in the relation between the weight and length at a given size, the heaviest in proportion to its length being the turbot, and the lightest the witch, the extremes being found among the flat-fishes. 8 Part ITI.—Twenty-second Annual Report With regard to the influence of temperature upon growth, it is well known from previous observations that fishes, at least in the waters near the shore, grow less quickly in winter than in summer, and may not grow at all if the temperature be very low. In the experiments referred to a number of the food-fishes were kept in tanks in which the water was of different temperature—in one it was considerably above the normal—and the effect on the growth was determined by measuring the fishes after they had been subjected for some time to the various temperatures and comparing the measurement with what it was at first. With a mean tempera- ture of 40:1 F. it was found that the mean increase in the length of whitings was 1°6 millimetres per ten days, and 2:5 millimetres when the temperature was 48°7 F.; under the same conditions haddocks grew at the rate of 2°7 and 5:1 millimetres respectively, and codlings increased under the lower temperature at the rate of 3°6 millimetres, and under the higher temperature at the rate of 6°87 millimetres in each ten days. In another tank where the mean temperature was 54°5 F., the rate of growth in length in each ten days was, on the average, 2'8 millimetres for whitings, 6:45 for codlings, 3:0 for common dabs, and 3°29 for plaice. The growth in length varied generally in relation to the size of the fish as well as to the species, the smaller individuals as a rule growing the quickest, and considerable difference was exhibited in many cases among individuals of the same species approximately equal in size. The influence of temperature is exerted directly in connection with the metabolism of the fish, that is, the chemical changes in its tissues, which result in growth as well as in the expenditure of energy. In low temperatures the process of digestion was greatly impaired, and appetite was more or less in abeyance, the fishes refusing their food or eating sparingly. It has been shown that the action of the digestive ferments is suspended at low tempera- tures and increased at high temperatures. The bearing of these observations on the growth of fishes. in winter, whether in the sea or in fresh water, is obvious. In the same paper the results of the investigations made as to the growth of the Sprat, the Witch Sole, the Norway Pout, and the Sharp-tailed Lumpenus are described, and illustrated by a series of diagrams. THE HATCHING AND REARING OF Foop-FISHES. During the hatching-season of 1903 the number of eggs of the plaice collected from the spawning pond at the Hatchery, Bay of Nigg, was approximately 65,940,000. This was almost the same number as in 1901, and about seven millions less than in the previous year. The number of fry that were hatched from these eggs and retained in the hatching apparatus until approaching the post-larval stage was estimated at about 53,600,000, or a little over 81 per cent. The fry were liberated for the most part off Aber- deen, but on three occasions they were taken further north and liberated off Fraserburgh. The first eggs were collected on 23rd January and the last on 16th May, the period of collection thus extending over 115 days, but the greater number were obtained in March, when 37,080,000 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 9 were collected, the number in April being nearly sixteen millions, and in February nearly twelve millions. It may be stated that the collection of eggs extends over a longer period at the Bay of Nigg than was the case at Dunbar, where the work did not usually ommence until March, the average duration at the former being 65 days and at the latter 86 days. The difference is due, not to variation in the spawning season, but to the circumstance that the fishes at Dunbar, being for the most part collected a little before the spawning, did not become accustomed to confinement suffi- ciently to part with their eggs until the spawning season was some way advanced, while at the Bay of Nigg they are kept in the large pond throughout the year, and spawn under natural conditions approximately during the same time that plaice are found spawning in the sea. An abundant supply of pure sea-water, of suitable temperature and specific gravity, has materially aided in the success of the work ; and as mentioned in last year’s Report, the cost of the fish hatching, when the hatchery is operated in conjunction with the Marine Laboratory, is materially reduced, and does not exceed £100 per annum. The period for which the embryonic and larval fishes are pro- tected in the hatching apparatus amounts to about half the duration of their pelagic life, but the benefit would be considerably increased if it were possible to rear them in any large numbers through their post-larval stages—that is, until they have completed their transformation and become adapted to live on the bottom. The rearing is not an easy matter, owing to the difficulty of pro- viding suitable food for multitudes of larvee confined in relatively small volumes of water, but the attempt to do so will ke made by the use of a special tank. Since the hatchery was established the number of fry of the food fishes which have been produced is as follows:—Plaice, 340,455,000 ; lemon soles, 5,727,000; turbot, 5,160,000 ; cod, 4,010,000 ; and other kinds, 2,000,000—the aggregate being 357,352,000. During the season deputations of fishermen from Aberdeenshire, who visited the establishment by arrangement with the Technical Education Committee of the County Council, received demonstra- tions as to the operations and the life-histories of the food fishes. Tue Lirg-HIstory OF THE CRAB. In the present Report will be found a paper, illustrated by four plates, in which Dr. H. C. Williamson gives the results of further observations on the life-history of the edible crab and some other Decapod Crustacea. The observations deal mainly with the repro- duction, and in this connection with the processes of casting, impregnation, and spawning. The spawning of the crab takes place in November, December, and January, and the casting of the shell and impregnation take place in summer; and it appears probable that in most cases spawning does not follow until about fourteen or fifteen months after the process of casting. On extrusion the eggs are attached to the swimmerets of the mother, and remain there for about seven months. The mode by which the eggs are attached is of interest, the author having 10 Part ITT.—Twenty-second Annual Report discovered that they are skewered on to the long delicate hairs with which the inner branches of the swimmerets are provided, and are not, as has generally been believed, fixed to them by a mucilaginous secretion. The eggs themselves are never found cemented together although crowded in close contact. The mode in which the eggs are skewered on to the stiff hairs is as follows. When the eggs are extruded they imbibe sea water and become swollen, so that the egg-mass is separated from the shell, and this space soon attains large dimensions. The eggs are retained in a semi-fluid mass in the “apron” of the crab, and by the continuous stabbing movement of the stiff hairs on the swimmerets the eggs are pierced and skewered as described, Dr. Williamson also treats of the rate of growth, the migrations, and the distribution of the crab, and in connection with the former subject had the use of the data furnished by Mr. Waddington, Bournemouth, of the various successive casts of certain edible crabs which had been kept in confinement for periods up to two years, and these are represented in a series of figures, and are of much interest. Further descriptions are given of the results of labelling crabs which were afterwards liberated, in order to throw light on their migrations. In contrast to some of the previous results, it may be said that one of the labelled crabs, an adult male, was obtained three years after its liberation very near the spot where it was set free. THE YOUNG OF THE WITCH SOLE. During the trawling investigations in the Moray Firth a very complete series of the young of the Witch Sole was obtained, one of the flat-fishes now brought to market in considerable numbers by the trawlers working in deep water, and in the knowledge of whose life-history there were considerable gaps. Dr. Williamson describes these in a paper in the present Report. Some dubiety has existed as to the identity of the post-larval stages of this form, which differ from the corresponding stages of most flat-fishes by their great length and slenderness, as well as by other characters, so that the first one described was supposed to be a young halibut. The present series, by filling up the blanks between the previously- recorded stages, completes the chain connecting the egg with the parent fish. The paper is illustrated with a number of figures. THE MARINE CRUSTACEA. In this Report will be found a paper, illustrated by three plates of figures, by Dr. Thomas Scott, descriptive of a number of rare crustacea, obtained for the most part during the trawling investi- gations. ‘The forms described are all small, and include two groups of the Copepoda that are somewhat abnormal both in their structure and habits. Among the nine species belonging to the first of these groups—the Monstrillide—three are new to science and are now described for the first time, and of the seven species which belong to the second of the groups—the Choniostomatidee— five are new to science and are here described for the first time, of the Fishery Board for Scotland. £7 and these are all minute forms which are parasitic on small species of Crustacea. The occurrence of other rare species belonging to the Amphi- poda, the Isopoda, and the Sympoda, other groups of Crustacea, is also recorded. Apart from the zoological interest of these discoveries, it is to be noted that the minute crustacea with which they deal play an important réle in connection with the food of fishes, many forms living upon them almost exclusively at some stage or another of their existence. THE PARASITES OF FISHES. In continuation of his researches on the forms which are para- sitic on marine fishes, Dr. Thomas Scott also contributes a paper to the present Report on this subject, illustrated with a series of figures. The parasites described include four Copepods and two Trematode worms. One of the former is new to science, and the other three have not previously been recorded from the Scottish seas. Both the Trematodes are new to science, and were obtained, along with two of the Copepods, on a specimen of the sting ray (Zygon pastinaca)—a fish closely allied to the skates— which was caught in the Moray Firth during the trawling investigations. In this paper there is also a description of a figure of a post- larval fish which has been attacked by two small crustaceans, furnishing an example of one of the dangers to which young fishes are exposed. THE YOUNG OF THE CONGER. In the course of the trawling investigations in the Moray Firth, two specimens of the pelagic young of the Conger-eel were taken in the small-meshed net used around the cod-end of the otter trawl. These forms, which are characterised in their younger stages by their singularly flattened form, are known as Leptocephali, and were until comparatively lately believed to represent distinct species of fish. They are very rarely seen in British waters. The two specimens referred to are described and figured in a paper by Dr. T. Wemyss Fulton in the present Report, along with other rare fishes obtained during the investigations. Among the others may be mentioned a larva! Fierasfer,an extremely rare form which, in the adult condition, lives within Holothurians; it was taken in a tow-net easterly from Aberdeen. A specimen of the pilchard was also secured in the Moray Firth—a fish which is said to have been at one time fairly common at some places in the southern part of the East Coast, but is now hardly ever seen in these waters. Other rare specimens comprised the sting-ray and the thickback sole, both secured in the Moray Firth. It is indeed remarkable that in several respects the fauna of the Moray Firth offers resemblances to that of the West Coast; it appears to indicate that a connection is established by means of the sea currents entering the Firth from the north. 12 Part IIT.—Twenty-second Annual Report INVESTIGATIONS ON THE HERRING IN THE FIRTH OF CLYDE. In connection with the winter herring fishing at Ballantrae Bank, off the coast of Ayr, arrangements were made for an investigation of the conditions of the fishing in relation to the operation of the Bye-law No. 18, by which the use of the seine for the capture of herrings within a defined area off the coast is prohibited. Owing, however, to the stormy weather that prevailed on these exposed grounds the fishing was almost a complete failure, only thirty-five crans of herrings being obtained within the area specified, although 232 crans were caught in the more sheltered waters of Lochryan, where fishing operations could be carried on. Under the circum- stances it was not found possible to make the investigations desired; but it may be noted that the weather conditions made an effective close-time in protecting the herrings frequenting the grounds, and if, as there is every reason to believe was the case, the herrings spawned there in February and March, the result ought to tend to increase the number of herrings in some future season. Investigations have also been undertaken with regard to the herrings in the Firth of Clyde generally, more particularly in con- nection with their migratory movements and spawning, about which comparatively little is known, and which will require some con- siderable time tocomplete. In reference to this enquiry a research is being made by Professor Milroy, Queen’s College, Belfast, on behalf of the Board, as to the chemical composition of the herring in relation more especially to the reproduction of the fish. We have the honour to be, Right Hon. Sir, Your most obedient Servants, ANGUS SUTHERLAND, Chairman. D. CRAWFORD, Deputy-Chairman. D’ARCY W. THOMPSON. W. R. DUGUID. L. MILLOY. D. MEARNS. H. WATSON. WM. C. ROBERTSON, Secretary. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. L—TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS. By Dr. T. Wemyss Futron, F.R.S.E., Superintendent of Scientific Investigations. INTRODUCTORY. The investigations into the condition of the fishing grounds, particularly in the closed waters of the Moray Firth and Aberdeen Bay, which were commenced four years ago by means of steam-trawlers, were continued last year, and a voyage was also made to the offshore waters lying off the mouth of the Firth of Forth. In the Moray Firth the more important areas were examined in February, March, April, June, October, November, and December, and the grounds in Aberdeen Bay were visited in the same months. On each occasion the places where fish were found to be most abundant were chiefly worked over ; the total number of hauls made in the Moray Firth, the results of which were recorded, was 101, and the number in Aberdeen Bay was 29, making a total in the closed waters of these areas o£ 13( drags, in addition to 18 in the offshore waters, or 148 altogether. The localities in the Moray Firth which were most thoroughly examined were Burghead Bay and the Dornoch Firth, as well as Smith Bank, the grounds off Lossiemouth, off the Suters of Cromarty, and the coast of Caithness. The total quantity of fish taken in the course of the investigation was large, amounting to 180,515 in the completely recorded hauls, and of these 126,485 were of a kind or size to be marketable, and 54,030 were un- marketable and were thrown overboard. One of the chief objects of these investigations is to ascertain the changes in the abundance of the food and other fish in the closed waters in different years and seasons, but observations are also made on the con- dition of the reproductive organs of the fish, their spawning, food, and on various other points connected with their life-history ; while at the same time the temperature of the surface and bottom water at the various places is observed and recorded ; and from the fact that the actual trawling work is carried on precisely as it is for commercial purposes, opportunities are thus afforded for certain observations, as, for example, the proportion of the various kinds of fish captured in the net which are marketable and the proportion unmarketable, the influence of the size of the mesh of the net on the size of the fish caught, &e., which would be otherwise difficult to obtain. Collections of the floating organisms or plankton were also secured, and a number of experiments made with small-meshed nets with the object of procuring collections in connection with the study of the rate of growth of fishes and their distribution. With the large commercial trawl, the efficient ship, and the experienced trawlers in charge it is possible to make a much more extensive and thorough examination of the grounds than could formerly be done. The results of the investigation are given in detail in the following pages and in the Tables which are appended. Tur Proportion oF MARKETABLE TO UNMARKETABLE FISHES. As already mentioned, the proportion of the unmarketable to the market- able was 54,030 to 126,485, which is therefore a very considerable 14 Part 1JI—Twenty-second Annuat Report proportion. The unmarketable fishes vary in amount in several ways. There are some which are never taken to market under any circumstances, being inedible or at least unsaleable. | The most common of theseis the long rough dab, which, however, is not found in any quantity in the shallow inshore waters. Dog-fishes are also unmarketable in the same way, and they are sometimes taken in large numbers by the trawl in the deep water in the northern part of the North Sea, but much less commonly in the Moray Firth or Aberdeen Bay. ‘There are a few other species occasionally brought up in the trawl which are for the same reason never taken to market. But the great majority of the unmarketable fishes belong to forms which are quite edible and marketable and are rejected merely because of their small size, such as small haddocks, whiting, plaice, &c. In some instances the question whether a particular species is taken to market or thrown overboard depends upon circumstances, irrespective of the size of the fish, as, for instance, with gurnards and anglers. ‘These two forms are now, however, generally brought to market, in the latter case only the tail part being made use of. The proportion of the un- marketable fishes of the class referred to depends also to a very large extent on the grounds fished over and the season of the year. Examples of this fact are described in the following pages, as, for instance, in con- nection with the plaice aud haddock (p. 30, 32, 36, 42). In the accompanying Table I have tabulated the numbers of marketable and unmarketable fishes taken in 103 hauls of the net in the Moray Firth and Aberdeen Bay, and have represented the proportions of each for the various species in percentages of the total. MARKETABLE. UNMARKETABLE. FISH. Toran Number. Per Cent. Number. | Per Cent. Cod, as ces 4,283 925 343 74 4,626 Haddock, ... ie, 46,287 86-0 7,525 14:0 53,812 Whiting, ... a, 4,694 Tb/-3 3,495 42°4 8,189 Coalfish, ... ae 45 91°8 4 8-2 49 Ling, a ~ 6 — _ -- 6 Hake, ae eae 4 — 1 — 5 Gurnard, ... zt 465 21°7 1,675 78°2 2,140 Catfish, " ... Bae 76 100°0 — — 76 55,860 81:0 18,043 19:0 68,903 Plaice, ae ans 27,669 69°6 12,057 30°3 39,726 Common Dab, ... 1,779 10°9 14,548 89:0 16,322 Flounder, ... i 904 91:6 83 8:2 987 Witch, aes Dy 5,089 84°8 911 iaseil 6,000 Lemon Dab, Be 518 95:7 23 4:2 541 Halibut, ... = 6 100°0 — — 6 Turbot, 52 23 100°0 _ — 23 Brill, at ane 220 99°5 1 0°5 221 Long Rough Dab a= a 2,533 100°0 2,533 ole, aN = 3 — — — 36,211 54°5 30,151 45°5 66,362 Skates and Rays,... 407 65:2 331 44:8 738 Anglers, ... bese 178 28°6 432 71:2 605 Other Fish, aoe a — 186 — 186 92,651 68-0 | 44,148 320 | 136,794 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 15 From this Table it will be seen that the percentages for the gross catch of fish are 68 for the marketable and 32 for the unmarketable, and these figures may be taken as fairly well representing the proportions in the inshore waters referred to, although the ratio varies on different grounds and at different times. The percentage of cod which were unfit for the market by reason of their small size was small, and less than with any other round fish save the catfish ; it amounted to only 7:4 per cent., the marketable, including cod and codling, being 92°5 per cent. The proportion of unmarketable haddocks was much higher, viz., 14, as against 86 per cent. marketable ; but the proportion was found to vary very greatly in different cases. In the hauls made in Burghead Bay in December, for example, about five- sixths of the haddocks taken were too small to be marketable, while on other occasions the proportion of these small haddocks was very slight. The proportion of unmarketable whitings taken was still greater, amounting to 42°4 per cent. of the total, the marketable being 57°3 per cent. The unmarketable coalfish—of which, however, comparatively few were caught—amounted to 82 per cent., while all the catfishes obtained were of marketable size. Gurnards, which, as stated, are not always taken to market, show a high percentage of the ‘‘unmarketable,” partly for this reason, 78°2. The proportion of round fishes of edible and saleable kinds which were unmarketable was collectively 19 per cent., the marketable being 81 per cent. With flat-fishes, apart from the Jong rough dab, which is never taken to market, the highest percentage unmarketable were among the common dabs, viz. 89, the marketable being only 10°9 per cent. This is owing to the generally small size of this fish, and sometimes trawlers are not very particular about it, when they are getting good catches of more valuable kinds. The proportion of unmarketable plaice was also high, 30°3 per cent., and in this case, even more than with the haddocks, the proportion varied greatly according to the depth of water and the season. In some places, as at Burghead Bay, where the fishing was as a rule con- ducted in water over seven fathoms in depth, comparatively few smail unmarketable plaice were caught, while in the Dornoch Firth, in from five to eleven fathoms, in June, the majority of the plaice got were too small to be marketable. In two hauls here, of a total of 9649 plaice caught, no less than 6419, or 70°1 per cent., were unmarketable, The proportion of unmarketable flounders taken was comparatively small, 8-2 per cent., no less than 91°6 per cent. being large enough to be taken to market. The reason of this high proportion is that these flounders were almost without exception spawning fish which had migrated out from the shallow waters near the beach for the purpose of spawning, the smaller and sexually immature forms remaining inshore beyond the reach of the trawl. The same reason no doubt explains the fact that all the turbot and almost all the brill taken were also large enough to be marketable. The number of turbot was not great, 23, but of the 221 brill all but one were marketable, or a proportion of 99°5 per cent. The shape of both these fishes makes them eminently liable to cap- ture in the trawl-net, if they are on the ground, and there is little doubt that the smaller forms, under about nine or ten inches, are close inshore on the sands. Among the skates and rays 44°8 per cent. were unmarketable, and 55:2 per cent. marketable, and the other unmarketable fishes were made up of anglers, herrings, sprats, dragonets, and a few others. The number of hauls on the offshore grounds was comparatively small last year, and the same contrast is therefore based on fewer results. Of B 16 Part ITI,—Twenty-second Annual Report a total of 27,156 fishes in the completely recorded hauls, 22,051 were marketable and 5105 unmarketable, the percentage of the former being 81:2, and of the latter 18°7—the proportion of the unmarketable being thus considerably under what it was on the inshore grounds. In these series of hauls also all the gurnards were classed as unmarketable, while, on the other hand, owing to the depth of water, all the plaice were marketable, The proportion of cod, including codling, which was marketable was 77-2 per cent., 22°8 per cent. being unmarketable ; in the case of haddocks, the percentage marketable was 86°7 and unmarketable 13°3; while with whitings the respective proportions were 54-4 and 45-6 per cent. THE PROPORTION OF IMMATURE FisH LANDED. The information given above and detailed in the Tables as to the pro- portion of fish of the different kinds which are caught in the operations of commercial trawl-fishing and thrown away as unmarketable, enables an opinion to be formed as to the degree of destruction which may take place on the inshore grounds. Tt is also of some importance to be able to ascertain the proportion of the fish caught and landed which are immature, that is to say, which have never developed milt or roe and reproduced their species. In most cases it may be said that the greater proportion of the unmarketable individuals of the class which is unmarketable owing to the small size, are immature, although in some instances mature fishes may also be too small to be marketable, This is the case with the common dabs, none of the imma- ture individuals being large enough to be marketable, and those landed are therefore adult fishes which have either reproduced or are large enough to reproduce. The same is true of the flounder, which, however, is not taken often in the trawl in ordinary commercial fishing. It is also true to some extent of the haddock, and still more of the whiting, com- paratively few of these under the size at which maturity may be reached being brought to market, and with the whiting, at all events, there is no doubt that a fairly large proportion of the smaller-sized but mature individuals are rejected because of their small size. With plaice, on the other hand, as with turbot, brill, and halibut, all those which have arrived at the size of maturity, and a large number which are under that limit are eminently marketable. It is the same with the cod and the large round fishes, and it is thus of some importance to be able to show approximately the proportion of the mature and immature fishes of the different species which are under ordinary circum- stances brought to market. In order to do this it is necessary to obtain two classes of facts—the limit of size which separates the mature from the immature in the different kinds of fish, and the numbers of fish at the various sizes which are caught. Information on the former head, as I have elsewhere pointed out, is not as exhaustive as one would like, but, still, numerous observa- tions have been made in Scotland and other countries which enable one to differentiate, sometimes with precision and at other times broadly, the mature from the immature. It happens, however, at all events in the case of some fishes, that the size which separates the mature from the immature is not the same in all places. Thus, with plaice the limit between the mature and immature is higher in the northern parts of the North Sea than the southern parts and the Channel. This difference does not, however, affect the present investigation to any extent, because coniparatively a very small proportion of the fish landed at Aberdeen is of the Fishery Board for Scotland. LZ caught in the southern parts referred to, as is explained in my paper dealing with the statistics in connection with the place of capture in the Board’s Twentieth Annual Report.* For the purpose referred to, certain sizes have been selected as separat- ing the mature from the immature individuals of the various species of fish dealt with ; in several instances they exceed the sizes assigned in my earlier papers on the subject,t where the limit had reference rather to the smallest mature individuals which were found than to the average size of the group or generation on first attaining maturity. The latter, no doubt, is the preferable course in many cases, but not in all, as is some- times supposed. The subject, indeed—the fixing of the line to separate the mature from the immature, so as to include as few of the latter with the former as possible and vice versa—is not by any means as simple as it looks. It is really in some degree a complex problem, and the degree of complexity varies in different cases. If the reproductive generation—that is, the group which first attains maturity—were distinctly separated from the next younger generation or group, then the proper limit weuld be natur- ally the point between ; on one side all the fishes would be immature and on the other side all would be mature, and in such an example the proper limit would be, not the average size at first- maturity, but the size of the smallest mature fish that could be caught. On the other hand, if the first reproductive generation were so fused with the next younger genera- tion—if the over-lapping between the two was such i within the range of its sizes, as many immature as the other contained mature, then the proper limit would be the average size at first-maturity. IT am not aware of any case in which either of these two conditions occur. In some forms in which reproduction takes place at an early age, as with the whiting and the sprat, the over-lapping of the reproductive generation with the preceding generation is comparatively slight, and in such instances the preferable limit in my opinion is not the average size of the group which is mature—which would exclude a large proportion of the mature fishes and include a very small proportion of the immature in compensation—but a limit placed near the minimum size at first-maturity. The approximation to the other extreme is to be found in the larger forms, such as the plaice, cod, &c., where reproduction does not take place - at an age so early, and where, consequently, from the variations in the rate or growth of the individuals of the different groups or generations, the first reproducing generation becomes to a certain extent fused with the generation immediately preceding. But I do not know of any case in which the fusion is so complete that half of the fishes comprised within it are mature and the other halfimmature. With the plaice, for example, a study of the curves appended to my paper dealing with the growth of this fish in the Twentieth Annual Report will show that although a considerable number of the fishes belonging to the younger group next to the reproductive group have fused with the latter, the greater number by far are distinct, and in such instances it appears to me that the proper line of division is not the average size of the repro- ductive group, but the point between the two groups, z.e. where the numbers of immature forms contained within the latter is balanced by the number of mature forms contained within the former. The precise differentiation of the mature from the immature is further complicated by the circumstance that the males and females do not in all “Pore pry... p. 80s ei. 1, + Highth Annual Report Part I1T., p. 160; Tenth, cbid. p. 240, hart Iie) Pl xXDyi, 18 Part ITT. —Twenty-second Annual Report species grow at the same rate, or attain the same size, the females, as a rule, growing quicker and becoming bigger ; and the numbers of the sexes in proportion to one another may vary. Thus, among the flat-fishes the females grow more rapidly, as a whole, than the males, and reach a larger size; while among the gadoids the rate of growth and the relative dimensions of the older forms appear to be, as far as ascertained, nearly or quite uniform. This does not, however, very materially affect the question of the limit at first maturity, since the males and females grow with fairly equal uniformity until the reproductive stage is reached, but in certain cases the male becomes mature at an earlier age than the female and at a smaller size, and it is this which introduces complexity and difficulty. It thus happens that among flat-fishes many more females than males are landed, although the number of males at the stage of reproduction may be equal to or greater than the number of females on the fishing grounds. I have therefore prepared a statement of the limit between the mature and the immature fishes of the various species, based upon the available information, with consideration of the facts concerning the growth of the fishes, which may be used in endeavouring approximately to determine the proportion of the immature and the mature which are marketable, as follows :— Whiting, - 8h | Turbot, - 17 Haddock, at ahudel Brill, - - 15 Cod, - - 26 Common Dab, 6 Plaice, - aie 83) Witch, - 12 Lemon Dab, - 10 | With regard to the other point of the investigation, the proportions of the fish at different sizes and weights which are landed, I have for a considerable time past devoted attention to this subject, and have measured and weighed a large number of fishes, amounting in the agoregate to over twenty tons, as they are landed and sold, With some kinds the average size and the limits of size are very regular, and these as a rule belong to the more important species. The information thus obtained as to the size aud weight of the various classes of fish enables a close approximation to be made as to the proportion of the mature and immature, and thus a comparison instituted between these results and the observations made on board the trawlers on the same subject. Tables containing the particulars of the size and weight of the fish referred to will be found appended to this paper (p. 89), and other information relative to the size and weight is given in a paper on the rate of growth of fishes (see p. 142). I have therefore made a series of calculations to show the proportion of the mature and the immature fishes of certain kinds caught by trawlers, the data being contained in the Tables and in preceding reports of the Fishery Board, particularly the paper above referred to, and the limit of size between the two classes being the biological one as defined. There are marked differences in the proportions among different fishes. As already stated in the case of the dab, all those which are marketable are of mature size; no immature individuals of this species are, therefore, landed. Among plaice, all those classed as large, or firsts, are of adult size, while all those belonging to the third, or small, class are under the biological size and are immature. Among mediums a certain proportion are immature, rather under one half in number being under the limit of of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 19 maturity. When calculated out it is found that approximately 24 per cent., or about one quarter of the total marketable plaice, by weight, are under the limit or immature, The proportion with the plaice varies greatly according to the depth of water, and the figure given offers a contrast to what obtains in the southern and eastern parts of the North Sea. Among lemon dabs all those classed as large, or firsts, are over the biological limit of maturity, but a fair proportion of the second class, or smalls, are immature, the percentage being about seven for the total weight of the marketable fishes. Among witches, all those classed as firsts, or large, are over the limit of maturity, and have either spawned or are large enough to do so. Among the class of seconds, which range in size from a little over 8 inches to about 14 inches, with an average length of, approximately, 113 inches, a considerable proportion are below the size of maturity, but the percentage of the immature, by weight, of the total number of market- able witches is only about 15. From the large size at which the cod first attains maturity, the proportion of the immature that are marketable is very considerable. Among boxed codlings one often finds a few which are over the biological size at maturity, and measuring as much as 28 inches, the selection as cod or codling on the part of the men on board the trawlers often depending on the meagre or fat condition of the fish, as well as on its length. Of all the cod and codling landed about 30 per cent., by weight, are below the biological size of maturity. With haddocks and whitings it is very different, since the market- able size approximates to the size at which the fishes first become mature. The calculations in regard to haddocks show that the proportion of the marketable which are immature is very small, amounting to only about 1 per cent. of the total quantity landed. This is much under what one might expect from the statements made as to the large quantities of undersized haddocks sometimes landed, but it is the result of careful observations on a large number of fishes, both in regard to size and weight. All the medium and large haddocks, or firsts and seconds, landed are above the mature size, and the great majority also of the small haddocks, or thirds. With the whiting the proportion of the immature among marketable fishes is still less, and the quantity of small, or second class, whitings brought to market by trawlers is inconsiderable, while the proportion among those which are under the biological size of maturity is also fractional. It may be said that practically all the whitings marketed by trawlers are of adult size. It must be borne in mind in connection with this subject that the limit taken is a biological one, having reference, not to the size of the fish from the market point of view, but with reference to reproduction. With regard to the numbers, as apart from the weight, the calculations show that, taking the mean of several years, the following represents approximately the total numbers of the fish of the kinds named which are brought to Aberdeen market :—Cod, including codling, 4,575,000 ; haddocks, 110,000,000 ; whitings, 15,000,000 ; plaice, 2,400,000 ; lemon dabs, 1,600,000; witches, 3,900,000; and dabs, 260,000. INVESTIGATIONS IN THE Moray FirtH AND ABERDEEN Bay, iu The first of the series of investigations was made in the Moray Firth in February, the steam trawler employed being the ‘‘ Ben Edra,” the trip extending from the 7th to the 13th; nineteen hauls of the net were 20 Part IIIT —Twenty-second Annual Report recorded. The places visited were Burghead Bay, where most of the hauls were taken, off Cromarty, the Dornoch Firth, and, on the 13th, Aberdeen Bay. The quantity of fish caught was not very great, haddocks particularly being comparatively scarce. The first haul was made off Burghead Bay, about four miles N.N.W. of Burghead light, in from seventeen to twenty fathoms, and it lasted for four hours and fifteen minutes. The aggregate number of fishes caught was only 228, of which 173 were marketable and fifty-five unmarketable. They included only five haddocks, all marketable, eight cod, fifty plaice, and ninety-four witches, all marketable but eight. The next drag was a little more productive, 692 fishes being caught in the four hours it lasted. Of these 463 were marketable and 229 unmarketable. They included forty- two haddocks, all marketable, fourteen cod, a halibut, three brill, one turbot, 128 plaice, and 191 witches, as well as fourteen lemon dabs, two cat-fish, and nine skates. Other six hauls were made in the same locality, but in rather deeper water, and they were somewhat more pro- ductive. The first of these was in from eighteen to twenty-five fathoms, Burghead light bearing from four to five miles S.S.E., and it lasted for four hours and five minutes. The number of fishes obtained was 725, of which 476 were marketable and 249 unmarketable. The former included eighty-eight haddocks, twenty-three cod, fifty-five codling, twenty-one plaice, thirty-eight lemon dabs, and 197 witches, as well as a few cat-fish and skates. The next haul, a little further off in somewhat deeper water— from twenty to thirty fathoms—lasted for four hours and twenty minutes, the aggregate catch being larger, namely, 1029 fishes, of which, however, a larger proportion were unmarketable. The marketable fishes numbered 586, the increase being chiefly in cod, plaice, and witches. The unmarketable consisted of whitings, common and long rough dabs, and herrings, of which seventy-four were taken, showing that a considerable shoal was present on the ground. The other hauls in this locality were rather less productive, and they were all characterised by the presence of cod, plaice, and especially witches, and the comparative scarcity of haddocks, particularly small haddocks. : In the following Table are given the numbers of the various species of fishes taken in this locality, the marketable being distinguished from the unmarketable. One of the hauls in the deeper water in which the net got fouled is omitted. Plaice, | CMON) Witch, | Ploun- | Lemon | Fa jiput.| Turbot.| Brill. the 495 125 | 1,699 ; 73 1 1 5 Il. 5 861 189 Total 495 986 | 1,888 : 73 1 1 5 Long Rough Cod, Codling. | Haddock. | Whiting. | Coal-fish. | Ling. Dab. iG : 154 117 393 49 20 3 1 653 ‘ | 11 11 150 1 Total 653 | 154 | 128 404 199 21 3 | [ Continued. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 21 {at fc pare Grey Thorn- Starry e Cat-fish. | Gurnard. Skate. ee Ray. Angler. If 4 : : 14 11 105 Il. : 1 6 2 9 202 Total 4 I 6 16 20 307 There were also taken in these hauls one dragonet, seventy-seven herrings, and two red gurnards. The aggregate number of fishes taken in the seven hauls, the time of actual fishing being thirty hours, was 5445 ; the average number caught per hour was thus 1815. The marketable fishes numbered 3269, with an average per hour of 109-0, and the unmarketable 2176, with an average of 72°5. The fish caught in largest numbers was the witch, viz. 1888, the average per hour's fishing being 62°9. The next few hauls were taken in the same locality but further to the west towards Cromarty, in water from twenty-five to thirty fathoms deep, and on a muddy bottom. In the first of these 1840 fishes were procured, 1125 being marketable. More than half of these were witches, viz. 826, and haddocks were also more abundant than in the previous hauls, thornbacks and starry rays being also more numerous. ‘The same features characterised the remainder of the hauls here, and a considerable number of cod were obtained. The next drag was for four hours and fifteen minutes, but the net was badly torn, and the catch amounted to only 355 fishes, of which 208 were marketable. The succeeding two hauls were more productive, the number of fishes taken in one of them being 1160, and in the other 2117, the marketable and unmarketable numbering respectively 688 and 1158, witches being in each case the most abundant. Other two hauls were made a little closer in to Burghead Bay, 1515 and 2009 fishes being obtained, the majority again consisting of witches, Altogether in this locality fourteen drags were taken. In one of these the net was fouled and in another it was badly torn, and the results from these hauls may be excluded. The total duration of the actual fishing of the remaining twelve drags was fifty-two hours, and the aggregate number of fishes taken was 14,072, or an average of 270°6 per hour’s fishing ; the marketable fishes numbered 7815, or an average of 150-3 per hour, and the unmarketable 6257, the average being 270°6. In the total were included 11,600 flat-fishes, 5992 being marketable and 5608 unmarketable. The most common was the witch, of which 5819 were caught (4987 marketable); the common dabs numbered 2991 (all unmarketable but 203), and there were 1988 long rough dabs. The quantity of plaice taken was moderate, viz. 707, and all were marketable ; only eighty-seven lemon dabs were caught, and all these were also taken to market. One black or common sole was obtained, a fish which is very rare on the east coast. Haddocks and whitings were poorly represented, 933 of the former and 263 of the latter being the whole number. Only eleven of the haddocks were too small to be taken to market—a great contrast to what usually obtains in these waters. The cod numbered 286, and the marketable codlings 208 ; there were also twenty- five codlings too small to be marketable. Among 211 skates and rays were six grey skates, seventy-six thornbacks, 124 starry rays and five 22 Part ITT.—Twenty-second Annual Report sandy rays. The number of anglers caught was exceptionally large, being 431—150 of them being taken to market. Highty-three herrings were taken, most of them in one haul, and also twelve sprats. During most of the time of fishing at Burghead and between it and Cromarty the wind had been blowing with fair strength, although variable in direction. On the 10th it increased in force, and a shift was made to the Dornoch Firth, where four hauls were made in from about six to twelve fathoms. The quantity of fish caught was small, the total in each of three of them being only a little over four hundred of all kinds ; in one it amounted to 710. Few haddocks, cod, or whiting were obtained, the bulk of the catch, such as it was, consisting of plaice. A considerable number of flounders were taken, nearly all of large size and engaged in spawning, the four hauls yielding 215. The total number of fishes got in the four drags in the Dornoch Firth— the actual time of fishing being seventeen hours and ten minutes—was 2027, which represents an average per hour of 118:0. The marketable amounted to 1476, or an average of 86°0 per hour, and the unmarketable 551, or an average of 32°1 per hour. The flat-fishes greatly exceeded the round-fishes in number, there being 1798 of them and only 203 of the latter. Plaice were the most abundant, and after them common dabs. Only 102 haddocks were got, none of them unmarketable, and six whitings, all of which, except one, were unmarketable. The paucity of small haddocks during the whole period of fishing on this occasion is noteworthy. Only one recorded haul in Aberdeen Bay was made on this trip, and the number of fishes taken was still less than in the Moray Firth. The haul lasted for four hours, and 155 fishes were caught, of which only thirty-five were marketable. These comprised one cod, thirteen codling, fifteen haddocks, three plaice, two lemon dabs, and one flounder, the unmarketable consisting chiefly of whitings and common dabs. The aggregate total of fishes taken and recorded in the seventeen hauls in February was 16,268, of which 9340 were marketable and 6298 unmarketable. The total of flat-fishes was 13,455, and of round fishes 2016. The quantity of fish landed at the market by the vessel, as recorded by the Fishery Officer, amounted to 47} cwts., as follows :— Cod, Codling. Ling. Coal-fish. Haddock. Whiting. Turbot. Brill. Lemon Dab. ‘b 2 3 6 1 at 3 4 Plaice. Dabs. Witches. Cat-fish. Flounder. Angler. Skate. 14 t 6} 13 1 2 2 II. The next series of trawlings was made in March on board the *“‘ Devanha,” the catches being again recorded by Mr. James Ingram, jun. In all, twenty-two recorded hauls were made, three in Aberdeen Bay on the 16th, three in Burghead Bay on the 17th and 18th, four in the Dornoch Firth, five on Smith Bank off the coast of Caithness, four off Lossiemouth on the 20th, and three off Tarbet Ness on the 21st and 22nd. In Aberdeen Bay there was a heavy sea, with a S.S.E. wind, and the catches were poor. The first haul here, in from thirteen to nineteen fathoms off Newburgh, lasted for four hours, and 514 fishes were captured, 478 being marketable and thirty-six unmarketable. They included 123 cod and 195 marketable codling, as well as 184 plaice— of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 23 all but twenty-eight marketable ; but only four haddocks were taken. The second drag in the same locality, and lasting for four hours and twenty minutes, yielded only 205 fishes, of which 121 were marketable and eighty-fonr unmarketable. In this haul only eight cod and four codling were taken, but there were ninety-two haddocks—-all but eight marketable ; the plaice numbered twenty-two, and there were a number of small skates. A third drag was made off Newburgh to Donmouth for four hours and five minutes, in from eight to sixteen fathoms, and the catch amounted to 375 fishes, 269 of which were marketable and 106 unmarketable. There were included in it forty-seven cod and 126 marketable codlings, a coal-fish, 145 plaice (ninety-two marketable), as well as a number of un- marketable dabs, flounders, and skates. Only three haddocks were taken. In the three drags in Aberdeen Bay, the time of the fishing being twelve hours and twenty-five minutes, only 1094 fishes were caught, the average per hour's fishing being 88:1. The marketable numbered 868, with an average number per hour of 69°9, and the unmarketable 226, with an average of 18:2. The total number of haddocks caught was ninety-nine, and of whitings, seven. The following Table gives the particulars of the marketable and unmarketable :— Plaice, | COMPO? | Flounder.| Witch, | 4°" | Cod. | Codling. 2 268 4 178 | 325 I 83 33 14 4 Total | 351 33 4 4 4 178 | 325 Grey Thorn- Gurnard. Skate. back. A lumpsucker was also taken in one of the hauls. These fish are occa- sionally caught in the trawl net near shore in spring, during their sawn- ing time. The vessel then steamed to the Moray Firth, visiting first the south coast. At Burghead Bay the catches were not very productive, comparatively few marketable fishes being got except plaice. The first drag, which lasted for three hours and fifty minutes, in from seven to twelve fathoms, yielded a total of 652 fishes, 439 being marketable and 213 unmarketable. The former comprised four cod, three codling, only two haddocks, no whitings, one turbot, eleven brill, 329 plaice, seventy com- mon dabs, fourteen flounders, three cat-fishes, and two anglers—the unmarketable consisting almost entirely of dabs. In the second haul, which lasted for four hours and fifteen minutes, 705 fishes were got, of which 316 were marketable, the majority consisting of plaice. Twenty-eight skates and rays were taken, ten being marketable, and three herrings. 24 Part ITT.—Twenty-second Annual Report The third drag was more productive, 948 fishes being taken —607 marketable and 341 unmarketable; it lasted for four hours. The bulk of the catch was composed of plaice and common dabs, 469 of the former and 398 of the latter ; all the plaice except forty-three were marketable, and 137 of the dabs. Altogether the number of fishes obtained in the three drags in Burg- head Bay aggregated, for the twelve hours and five minutes of actual fishing, 2305, of which 1362 were marketable and 943 unmarketable. The flat-fishes greatly preponderated, 2087 being caught, against only 121 round-fishes. Among the flat-fishes 1314 were taken to market and 773 thrown overboard, while only thirty-one of the round-fishes were market- able, the marketable haddocks numbering two, and there were no market- able whitings. The plaice caught numbered 1024, all but forty-three being taken to market. The productiveness of the grounds in Burghead Bay on this occasion was shown by the number taken per hour’s actual. fishing, which was 190°8 for all kinds of fish—112°7 for the marketable and 78:1 for the unmarketable. The average for the marketable plaice was 81°2 per hour’s fishing. The particulars of the marketable and unmarketable fishes are as follows : — Plaice. Goren Flounder. denen Turbot.| Brill. Cod. |Codling. I. 981 263 39 10 1 20 7 13 II 43 729 1 1 Total 1,024 992 39 10 1 21 7 ili Had- : z Thorn- | Starry ddel. Cat-fish. | Gurnard.| Angler. back: Ray, Ray. I 2 9 3 2 7 5 3 II 45 40 c 1 37 16 14 5 Total 47 40 9) 1 39 23 19 8 There were also taken in these hauls seven herrings and one lump- sucker, After leaving Burghead Bay the vessel steamed to the Dornoch Firth, where four hauls were made in the usual locality, in sweeps around the bay opposite Dunrobin, Golspie, and Embo, the depth of water being from about eight to sixteen fathoms. In the first haul, which lasted for four hours and five minutes, 999 fishes were taken, of which 822 were marketable and 177 unmarketable. The marketable fishes com- prised twenty-four cod, 369 plaice, seventy-one common dabs, 317 flounders, as well as ten cat-fish, three lemon dabs, and eighteen skates and rays. Round-fishes continued to be very scarce, only two haddocks and a single whiting being caught. The second drag was a very poor one, only 229 fishes being obtained, of which 148 were marketatle. There were fifty-seven plaice, sixteen cod, twelve common dabs, and fifty-two flounders. Three herrings and twenty-twe sprats were also taken. The next haul-was better, a hundred cod and 110 marketable codling, as well of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 25 as 174 plaice, eleven lemon dabs, and a number of common dabs and flounders, being caught. In the fourth drag the net got badly split, and the catch was small, amounting to only 160 fishes, 111 being marketable. It however included thirty-eight cod and forty-seven marketable plaice. Omitting this imperfect haul, the total number of fishes taken in the other three drags in the Dornoch Firth was 2066, of which 1470 were marketable and 596 unmarketable. The duration of the fishing in these drags was twelve hours and fifteen minutes, and the averages per hour’s fishing were therefore as follows :—120-0 for the marketable, 48°7 for the unmarketable, and 168-7 for both included. The average for plaice was 49-0 per hour. The three hauls yielded 140 cod, but only seven had- docks and a single whiting, all marketable. The absence of small had- docks and whitings both here and at Burghead Bay was remarkable, and formed a striking contrast to what obtained later in the year. The numbers of marketable and unmarketable fishes caught in the three drags in the Dornoch Firth are as follows :— Plaice. ae Flounder. Heron Brill. Cod. |Codling. ts I. 600 128 420 16 2 140 115 ff II 8 509 48 Total 608 637 468 7 Whiting, | Cat-fish. | Angler. Thorn- | Starry | Sandy back. Ray. Ray. I 1 14 1 ET; 2 Total 1 4 2 1 There were also caught three herrings, twenty-two sprats, and two lumpsuckers. On leaving the Dornoch Firth the vessel ran to Smith Bank, where five hauls were made on the western edge in from about nineteen to twenty-eight fathoms of water, and here much better results were obtained than in the localities above described. The first haul, which lasted for four hours, yielded 726 fishes, of which 262 were marketable and 464 unmarketable. The catch included eleven cod, a halibut, forty plaice, a few lemon dabs and witches, and also 223 haddocks, in the latter respect thus differing from the catches in the Dornoch Firth and Burghead Bay. Eighty-two of the haddocks were too small to be marketable. There were also 117 gurnards, a fish more sparingly represented in the previous localities—at this season it is only found in any number in the deeper waters offshore. The second drag was better than the first, 1016 fishes being caught, of which 670 were marketable. They included thirty cod 574 haddocks, sixty-nine plaice, fifty-eight lemon dabs, and seven cat-fish. Seventy-five of the haddocks were two small to be marketable. The third haul produced 1934 fishes, 648 being marketable and 1286 unmarketable. On this occasion haddocks were well represented, 1379 being taken ; no less than 973 of these were too small to be marketable. 26 Part I11.-—Twenty-second Annual Report The catch included twenty-eight cod, ninety plaice, 111 lemon dabs, three cat-fish, and a few other kinds. The fourth and fifth hauls were not quite so good as regards the number of fish caught. In the first of them the total was 901, of which only 166 were marketable, and these included sixty-two cod, forty-four plaice, fifty-two lemon dabs, and five cat-fish. There were 333 haddocks, all too small to be marketable, and 126 whit- ings, of which only one was marketable. ‘lhe number of fishes in the last haul was still less, viz. 664, and all except 100 were unmarketable. Those taken to market comprised twenty-three cod, fifty-four plaice, two coal-fish, eleven lemon dabs, and a few others. The number of haddocks caught was 127, and of whitings 216, but all the latter and all except three of the haddocks were unmarketable. Altogether in the five hauls in this locality, the time of actual fishing being twenty hours and twenty-five minutes, 5241 fishes were taken, the average per hour's fishing being 256°7. The proportion of marketable was, however, not large, owing to the numbers of small haddocks and dabs ; the number was 1846, the average per hour being 90°4, while there were 3395 unmarketable, giving a ratio of 166°2 per hour. The aggregate number of flat-fishes in the five drags was 1779, 569 being marketable and 1208 (chiefly common and long rough dabs) unmarketable. Plaice were most numerous, 297 being taken, and lemon dabs next, of which 249 were caught, all but ten marketable. The ageregate of round-fishes was 3395, there being 1268 marketable and 2127 unmarketable. The number of haddocks was 2636, and 1049 of them were marketable and 1587 too small to be taken to market—a consider- able proportion. The average number of haddocks taken per hour’s fish- ing was 129°1. The particulars as regards the marketable and unmarketable of each kind are given in the following Table :— Com Flou Lemon Long Plaice, | 400 aE) Witch. Halibut.] Rough | Brill. |Megrim Dab, der, Dab. Dab Had- ane Coal- | 77,3... | Cat- | Gur- | Grey |Thorn- dock. | Whiting.) -.,, |Hake.! son. | nard. | Skate.| back. 1,049 30 4 0 iN ; 8 1 1,587 368 ; 1 : 149 6 26 Total 36 2,636 398 4 1 17 149 | 14 27 There were also caught in these hauls eighteen (unmarketed) anglers, one dragonet, and nine red gurnards. The next place examined was the grounds off Lossiemouth, where four drags were made on the 20th, in from about seven to fourteen fathoms of water. In two of them the net was badly torn, and the catches in these cases was small, and may be neglected. In the first of the others the total number of fishes caught in the four hours during which the drag of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 27 lasted amounted to 785, and of these 556 were marketable and 229 unmarketable. Very few haddocks were obtained, the total being three, all marketable ; the chief fishes were cod, of which fifty were got, codling, plaice, and flounders. In the other haul 690 fishes were obtained, 570 being marketable. On this occasion also the marketable fishes consisted for the most part of cod, codling, plaice, and flounders, while only six haddocks were taken. The aggregate for the two hauls here, the actual fishing lasting eight hours and fifteen minutes, was 1474, or an average per hour of 178°7. The marketable fishes numbered 1126, an average of 136°5 per hour, and the unmarketable 348, giving an average of 42°2. The flat-fishes greatly preponderated, 1134, or an average of 137-4, being caught, as compared with 327 round-fishes, with an average of 39:6. All the round- fishes were marketable, and they comprised the large number of 127 cod, 172 codling, five coal-fish, and twelve cat-fish, but only nine haddocks and two whitings. The flat-fishes included 524 plaice, all marketable except nine (the average of the former being 62°4), 350 common dabs, and 243 flounders. Although the catches here were good, the fishing was carried on at some expense of gear, and a shift was made to the north-east, off Tarbet Ness, where three drags were taken in from twenty to twenty-six fathoms of water. In the first, which occupied four hours and thirty-five minutes, only 222 fishes were taken, 174 marketable, but the net was slightly split. In the next haul 449 were caught, of which 130 were marketable, and in the third 259, the marketable numbering 161. The chief fish taken in this locality was cod, 142 being obtained. Taking the two perfect hauls, the time of actual fishing being eight hours and ten minutes, the number of fishes secured was 708, the average per hour being 86°6. The number of marketable was 291, with an aver- age of only 35:6, and the unmarketable 417, with an average of 51:0 The total included 137 plaice, 124 cod, 201 haddocks, of which only sixteen were marketable, sixteen whitings, all unmarketable, and a few others. The quantity of fish landed from this trip amounted to 140? ecwts., as follows :— Cod. Codling, Ling. Coal-fish, Haddock, Turbot. Halibut. Brill. 1 81 54 3 2 34 $ & % Lemon Dab. Plaice. Dabs. Megrim, Flounder. Cat-fish. Skates, 23 28} 12 4 44 5 5 REE: From the 8th to the 13th of June another series of trawlings was made on board the “ Drumblair,” the places visited being Burghead Bay, the grounds off Lossiemouth, the Dornoch Firth, the ground off Lybster, Smith Bank, and Aberdeen Bay, twenty-two hauls being recorded. The fishing in Burghead Bay, where three drags were made on the 8th and 9th, was very poor, the total number of fish taken being only 560, of which 203 were marketable, the duration of the fishing being six hours and forty minutes. In one of the hauls the net was slightly torn, and in the other two, lasting for four hours and forty minutes, 390 were caught, 125 of them being marketable. The average per hour at this time in Burghead Bay was 84:1, the average for the marketable being only 30°5. The catch consisted chiefly of plaice ; only one cod, two cod- lings, a single haddock, and three whitings were caught. An explana- 28 Part ITT.—Twenty-second Annual Report tion of the poor takes was probably the very large quantity of weed which was found in the net, which was with difficulty cleansed of it, experience showing that under such circumstances fish are usually scarce. On leaving Burghead Bay the vessel proceeded to the ground off Lossiemouth, where a haul was made in from eleven to fourteen fathoms, about three miles off. The net was hauled in fifty minutes, and it con- tained 278 fishes, of which only forty-one were marketable, viz. forty plaice and one black or common sole. The unmarketable fishes num- bered 237, and consisted of common dabs, small plaice, and gurnards, of which there were 110. The weather both here and at Burghead Bay was quite calm, the sea smooth, and there was a slight fog. The vessel then steamed to the Dornoch Firth, where a number of drags were taken. In the first, which lasted for only twenty-eight minutes, the net having caught on sornething on the bottom, ninety-five fishes were taken, of which forty-one were marketable and fifty-four unmarketable. They consisted mostly of plaice and common dabs; only one haddock was obtained, and there were no whitings. For the time the net was fishing the catch was fairly good, and a ‘‘dan” was put down and a few of the succeeding hauls were made around it. In the first of these, in from five to eleven fathoms, and in two hours and forty-two minutes actual fishing, a large bag of fish was secured. The total number of fishes was 4928, of which 1555 were marketable and 3373 unmarketable. With the exception of fifty gurnards and twenty-four thornbacks, they were all flat-fishes and nearly all plaice. ‘These numbered no less than 4638, of which 1525 were marketable and 3113 unmarketable; the former consisted of eleven “ large,” 205 ‘‘ mediums,” 370 “small,” and 939 “fourths.” The small unmarketable plaice measured from three and three-quarter inches up to ten inches in length. The catch also included four brill and six flounders. In the next recorded haul, on the same ground and lasting for four hours, 4859 fishes were taken, of which 1318 were marketable and 3541 unmarketable. The great bulk again consisted of plaice, which numbered 4517, and of these 1211 were marketable and 3306 unmarketable. The other marketable fishes included one turbot, one brill, eighty-five common dabs, one lemon dab, and nineteen thornbacks. The small “ offal” plaice were of the same sizes as in the former haul, and their great abundance showed how destructive the otter-trawl may be on such shallow-water grounds in certain cases. In the two hauls forty-three thornbacks were got, and the males greatly preponderated. In fifty-six examined from these and other catches, there were fifty-one males and only five females—a proportion the reverse of what usually obtains.* The larger and medium-sized gurnards were spawning, and they were found to be feeding on shore-crabs. Owing to the quantity of small plaice taken, it was decided to shift a little further out so as to avoid the shallow water, and the result was immedi- ately apparent. In the first haul made here, in from nine to thirteen fathoms, the “ bag” was not so large, but the fish were of better size. The haul lasted for four hours and two minutes, and the fishes caught numbered 1144, of which 432 were marketable and 712 unmarketable. The former included 412 plaice, of a total of 1105, the large numbering twenty-eight, the medium fifty-eight, the small 110, and the fourths 216. There were also two cod, ten common dabs, two flounders, one cat-fish, and five thornbacks. The fourth class of marketable plaice consisted of fish measuring from 23 centimetres (nine inches) to a little over 31 centi- metres (twelve and a half inches), and the unmarketable from 19:8 cm. * Twenty-first Annual Report, Part TII., p. 280. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 29 (seven and three-quarter inches) to about 23-5 cm., or nine and a quarter inches ; a few were a little larger. The selection of the various classes by the men, being solely by the eye, is never perfect, one class always overlapping another more or less. A number of other hauls were made on this ground with the same general results, the marketable fishes consisting of plaice and scarcely any- thing else, round-fishes, withthe exception of gurnards, being almost absent. During the time in the Dornoch Firth the weather was very favourable for fishing operations on the whole, though on the 10th there was some wind from the east, which made the sea a little choppy, causing the vessel to roll. In the ten recorded hauls in the somewhat deeper water, from eight to thirteen fathoms and mostly from eight to eleven, the time of actual fishing being thirty-eight hours and thirty-two minutes, the aggregate number of fishes captured was 7613, of which 3565 were marketable and 4046 unmarketable. They consisted mostly of flat-fishes, and chiefly of plaice, the former numbering 7316, and the round-fishes, nearly all gurnards, only 279. The average per hour’s fishing was 92-5 for the marketable, and 105-0 for the unmarketable, the general average for both combined being 197:5. Only five cod, two (unmarketable) codlings, thirty- two haddocks, all marketable, were taken, and not a single whiting. The plaice numbered 6680, of which 3450 were marketable and 3230 unmarketable, the respective averages per hour’s fishing being 89°5 and 83°8 for the marketable and unmarketable, and 173-3 for both together. In the two first hauls in the somewhat shallower water above described a greater number of fishes were captured in the six hours and forty-two hours of fishing, viz. 9787, the average per hour being 1460-7 ; the marketable numbered 2873, with an average of 428-7, and the unmarket- able 6914, with an average of 1032°0. The number of plaice in these two hauls was 9155, the average per hour being 1366-4; the marketable amounted to 2736, with an average of 4084, and the unmarketable to 6419, with an average of 958:0. These numbers are very rarely reached. The number of marketable and unmarketable fishes taken in the twelve hauls was as follows :— F Jom. - F L ‘ ‘od]i Plaice. ou eae Brill. | Turbot. a D | Cod, | Codling. ie 6,186 141 11 7 i 1 5 IL 9,649 963 3 2 Total | 15,835} 1,104 14 G 1 1 5 2 Thorn- ae Haddock,| Hake. | Cat-fish. | Gurnard.| Angler. ack: Sprat. I 382 1 5 50 - Il. 234 8 7 1 Total 32 if 5 234. 8 57 1 It is of interest to contrast the proportions in which the plaice of different sizes were caught in the two hauls in the shallower water and in 30 Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report the ten in a little deeper water on this occasion ; and in the appended Table I give the percentage of each size to the total, and the average number taken in each hour’s fishing in the two cases respectively. The two hauls are indicated by A and the ten by B. Large. Medium, euler Fourths. capa A No. 27 329 681 1,699 6,419 B No, 174 Tired) 91179 1,322 | ee oe beeniies 0-29 eit) 728) 18°55 70°11 B phe: 2°60 11:60 17°65 19°80 48:3 | A | No. per 4-0 49-1 101°6 253°6 958-0 Hour’s B | Fishing. 4°5 | 20:1 30°6 34°3 83°8 It will be seen how much greater the proportion of small plaice, under about ten inches, is in the former case than in the latter. The actual abundance on the ground, as shown by the average per shot, indicates that while the large plaice were nearly equally distributed, the medium plaice, and still more markedly those still smaller, were far more numerous in the shallower water. Nevertheless it will be observed that the largest average in each case is for the unmarketable fish, that is, under about nine and a half or ten inches. Two hauls with the small-meshed net around the cod-end were made in the Dornoch Firth. In the first, which was for an hour and twenty- eight minutes, it was found on getting the trawl up that the fine net had been holed. The total number of fishes taken was 143, belonging to eleven species, as follows :—Plaice 55, common dab 38, lemon dab 2, little or yellow sole 3, cod 10, haddock 1, gurnard 14, cat-fish 1, sand-eel 16, goby 1, gemmeous dragonet 2. In the second haul, which lasted for an hour, the catch was also very small, viz. 170 fishes, belonging to five species, viz.—plaice 103, common dab, 57, gurnard 7, sand-eel, 1, angler 2. The next place where fishing was carried on was off Lybster on the coast of Caithness, where a drag for two hours in twenty-three fathoms gave 584 fishes, of which 383 were marketable and 201 unmarketable. The catch comprised six marketable plaice, forty-six marketable lemon dabs, and forty common dabs, as well as 410 haddocks, 308 of them being marketable, two cod, and forty-four whitings, twenty-five of which were too small to be marketable. Smith Bank was then visited, and a haul there, in from nineteen to twenty-two fathoms, for two hours and five minutes, gave a total of 773 fishes, 378 being marketable. The flat-fishes consisted of two turbot, 220 common dabs, and twenty-nine lemon dabs, all but seven of them market- able ; there were also taken 481 haddocks, 316 marketable, one cod anid twelve marketable codlings, as well as two cat-fish and twenty-three gurnards., After leaving the Moray Firth five hauls were made in Aberdeen Bay, with very good results. The first was in from eight to ten fathoms off the Black Dog, and it lasted for four hours. The number of fishes taken was 1749, of which 1384 were marketable and 365 unmarketable, the bulk of the catch consisting of plaice and haddocks. Of 917 haddocks caught, 707 were marketable and 210 unmarketable; all the former of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 31 were “thirds” or small. The plaice totalled 597, all but twenty being marketable, and of these twenty-five were large, 363 mediums, and 189 small, There were also one cod, three marketable codlings and fourteen unmarketable, forty small whitings, 150 dabs, twenty-five gurnards, and two anglers. The next haul in the same place, and also lasting for four hours, gave almost exactly the same numbers, the total being 1745, the marketable 1312 and the unmarketable 433. The haddocks numbered 1013, all being small and 250 of them uumarketable, while of the 507 plaice, all of which were marketable, fifteen were large, 162 medium, and 330 small ; there were no “fourths,” a still smaller class, as in the Moray Firth. In these two drags at this place, the duration of fishing being eight hours, 3494 fishes were captured, the average per hour being 436°6. The marketable, numbering 2696, gave an average of 337°0, and the unmarketable, of which there were 798, an average of 99-6. Three other hauls were made in from twelve to fifteen fathoms, off Slains Castle, with even better results. Only one was completely recorded ; it lasted for four hours, and 2068 fishes were taken, 1855 marketable and 213 unmarketable. The number of haddocks was 1797, all but 109 marketable ; there were fewer plaice, viz. 160, all marketable, and they comprised sixty mediums and one hundred small. The other marketable fishes were two turbots and five brill. In the next haul, fur three hours, 4283 marketable fishes were secured ; the nnmarketable were not counted, but they consisted of six basketfuls, mostly of small haddocks. The haddocks enumerated amounted to 4126, of which 303 were mediums, 3193, smalls and 630 fourths, or very small. There were also eighty-seven plaice, al] marketable, and seventy marketable common dabs. ‘The last drag, for- four hours, yielded 1985 marketable fishes, the haddocks numbering 1871 and the plaice 107; all the haddocks were thirds and fourths. The offal was not noted. The following are the particulars of each class of fish taken in the three completely recorded drags in Aberdeen Bay :— we Common . Cod- | Had- | Whit-} Gur- | Ang- Plaice, Dab. Turbot. | Brill. | Cod. ling: |'dock.| ing. | nard | ler. E 1,244 94 2 7 1 3 13,158] 40 | - 2 Il. 20 263 : i : 39 | 569) 56 | 61 3 Total | 1,264 357 2 7 Eo} 43771 3:727 | 961 61 5 The quantity of fish landed at the market, as the result of this trip, as recorded by the Fishery Officer, was 81 ewts., as follows :— Cod. Codling. Coal-fish. Hake, Haddock. . Turbot. i 4 wh 4 f , Brill. Lemon Dab, Plaice, Cat-fish. Flounder, Skates. 5 633 13 3 9 LVi: In October another series of trawlings was made, by means of the steam-trawler “‘Star of the North,” the grounds visited being Aberdeen Bay, Burghead Bay, the Dornoch Firth, off Lybster, and Smith Bank. Cc 32 Part ITI._—Twenty-second Annual Report In Aberdeen Bay five hauls were made on the 16th and 17th of the month, with fair results, a strong breeze blowing from the S.W., while the sea was rough. The first was off Black Dog in from eight to twelve fathoms, and it lasted four hours. The catch amounted to 1978 fishes, of which 1538 were marketable, most consisting of haddocks. Of these 1517 were caught, all marketable, the majority being “large” or “ firsts,” viz. 749. Thirteen cod and 121 codlings, of which 118 were marketable, were included in the catch, as well as 264 whitings, twenty- two plaice, one lemon dab, and twenty-eight common dabs. The next drag in the same locality, and in from nine to twelve fathoms, gave almost the same result, viz. a total of 1964, of which 1889 were marketable. The number of haddocks was 1099, all marketable, there being 395 large, 164 medium, and 540 thirds. There were also four cod and 282 codlings, all but nine marketable, 275 whitings, ten brill, 194 plaice, twelve lemon dabs, and seventy-three common dabs._ A third haul for four hours in the same locality gave 1287 fishes, 1216 of which were marketable, the bulk of the catch consisting of large and medium haddocks, cod, codlings, and plaice. The fourth drag was made in from twelve to twenty fathoms, from the same place towards Cruden Skerries, and lasted for three hours and a quarter. The catch consisted of 1685 fishes, 1634 being marketable. The number of haddocks was 790, of which 237 were large, 156 mediums, and 397 thirds. Besides nine cod, 387 codlings were taken, all but five marketable, 228 whitings, 204 plaice, some dabs and rays. The fifth haul was made from the Skerries towards Aberdeen and lasted for an hour, The catch amounted to 208 fishes, chiefly haddocks, whitings, and plaice ; it was made with the small-meshed net around the cod-end. The three hauls in from eight to twelve fathoms, the time of actual fishing being eleven hours and fifty minutes, yielded a total of 5229 fishes, the rate per hour being 442°0. The marketable numbered 5043, with an average per hour of 426°3, and the unmarketable 186, with an average of 15°7. The aggregate of haddocks was 3281, with an average per hour of 277°3. A feature was the large number of marketable cod- lings, of which 570 were taken in three hauls, The particulars of the catches of the first four drags in Aberdeen Bay are these :— Plaice, | Common ) Lemon | turbot. | Brill. | Cod. | Codling. if 615 71 30 3 23 52 | 952 Il. a 126 : z : ? 28 Haddock, | Whiting. | Gurnard. | Angler. ace ieoniae pp I 4,071 830 1 16 8 5 ist 49 21 2 3 2 6 Total 4,071 879 21 3 19 10 11 In the haul with the small-meshed net, for an hour, the total number of fishes caught was 384, as follows :—Plaice 42, common dab 26, long rough dab 1, cod 22, haddock 94, whiting 190, sprat 9. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 33 The fishing in the Moray Firth was begun on the 19th, Burghead Bay being first visited ; the weather was calm, and very large quantities of fish were taken. The first haul was in from twelve to twenty fathoms, but. mostly in and about ten, and lasted for four hours, The bag of fish was an exceptionally large one, comprising thirty-one and a half baskets of haddocks, mostly small, and six baskets of plaice, as well as other fishes. The total number of the fishes caught was 8382. of which 7286 were marketable and 1096 unmarketable. Among the former were 6439 haddocks and 622 plaice, sixty whitings, a halibut, two brill, thirty witches, twenty common dabs, and ninety-six gurnards. The unmarket- able consisted chiefly of common dabs, whitings, and plaice. The other four hauls at Burghead Bay were made in water from eight to twelve and thirteen fathoms, and they were also good in regard to the result. In the first, lasting for four hours, 3446 fishes were taken, 2581 marketable and 865 unmarketable. The former included 1463 haddocks, 646 plaice, and 255 whitings, and also a turbot, three brill, two witches, and some common dabs and gurnards, The next, also for four hours, produced 2556 fishes, 1596 marketable and 960 unmarketable, haddocks and plaice predominating. In the next haul, also for four hours, 4037 fishes were caught, 3005 of them being marketable and 1032 unmarket- able. The catch included 2119 haddocks and 491 plaice. In the last haul, for one hour, the catch amounted to 912 fishes, 515 being marketable and 397 unmarketable ; most consisted of plaice, had- docks, and common dabs. The aggregate quantity of fish taken in these five drags, the time of fishing being seventeen hours, was the large one of 19,333 fishes, 14,983 being marketable and 4350 unmarketable. The averages per hout’s fishing were 1137°2 for the whole, 881°3 for the marketable, and 255-9 for the unmarketable. The total number of haddocks was 10,910, with an average of 641°8; the number of plaice was 2730, the average being 160-6, and the number of common dabs 3618, giving an average per hour of 212°8. There were very few cod or codlings, viz. three of the former and fifty-two of the latter, and 523 gurnards, of which 379 were taken to market, The productiveness of the grounds in Burghead Bay on this occasion very strikingly contrasted with the condition in spring and in June. The following Table gives the numbers of the marketable and unmarketable fishes taken in the five hauls, the former being dis- tinguished by the figure I., and the latter by II. :-— Plaice, | COMO) Witch. | E8™ | Halibut. | Turbot. | Brill. | Angler. I. | 2,622 218 68 6 1 2 5 Cod. | Codling. | Haddock. | Whiting. | Hake. | Gurnard.| 420t I 3 49 | 10,753 865 1 379 ul 34 Part IIL.—Twenty-second Annual Report The proportion of the small plaice to those of larger size here was very different to what it was in the Dornoch Firth in June, The unmarket- able gave only a ratio of 6°3 per hour, as shown in the appended Table, which also gives the numbers, and the average per hour’s fishing, for the various classes of haddocks :— Plaice. Large. Medium. Small. Fourths. baa siros oc INS : 22 677 795 1,128 108 Average per Hour : 1:3 39°8 46°8 66°3 6:3 : : : Unmarket- Haddock. Large. Medium. Small. Fourths. able IN@s = "% . 62 521 9,988 182 157 Average per Hour : 36 30°6 5875 10°7 9:2 In one haul, for an hour, in eight to twelve fathoms, with the small- meshed net around the cod-end of the otter-trawl, 997 fishes were obtained, belonging to twelve species, as follows :— Plaice. Common Dab. Witch. Cod. Haddock. Whiting. 229 340 13 21 246 93 Hake. Gurnard. Pogge. Angler. Dragonet. Thornback. 1 50 1 1 1 i The fishing in the Dornoch Firth, which was the next place visited, was . fairly good, but not so productive as at Burghead Bay. The first haul was made on the afternoon of the 20th October, off Dunrobin and Golspie, in from eight to fourteen fathoms of water, and lasted for two hours, The number of fishes caught was 793, of which 677 were marketable and 116 unmarketable. They included forty-two cod, thirty-three codlings, all but seven marketable, 592 haddocks, nearly all marketable, twenty- seven whitings, two brill, twenty-two plaice, and one or two others. The weather was fine, a light wind blowing from the south-west. In the next drag in the same locality, and lasting also for two hours, 842 fishes were caught, 771 being marketable. There were only three cod, but the number of haddocks was increased to 652, and of plaice to a hundred. A number of other hauls were made on the same grounds, the best being one of four hours’ duration, by which 2486 fishes were taken, 2239 marketable and 247 unmarketable. Only one cod was included in the catch, but there were 1846 haddocks and 345 plaice, as well as some codlings, whitings, lemon dabs, and others. In the next haul the net was split, but the one succeeding it yielded 2223 fishes, 2081 being market- able. The haddocks numbered 1926, and the plaice 133, and there were also five cod, forty-two codlings, and some dabs. Altogether there were nine recorded drags in this place, and the agere- gate of fishes taken was 12,253, 9611 being marketable and 2642 unmarketable. The averages per hour of actual fishing were 331°4 for the marketable, 91:1 for the unmarketable, and 422°5 for both combined. The average per hour for the haddocks was 266°8 and for the plaice 57:0. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 35 In the following Table are given the totals of each kind of fish taken in these nine hauls, the marketable being indicated by I. and the unmarket- able by IL. :— Plaice, | Common | witch, | Lemon | Bein. Cod. | Codling. | 1. 1,552 89 2 23 5 bd 138 IL. 100 Total | 1,652 Haddock. Whiting. | Coal-fish. | Gurnard. Cat-fish, | Thornback,. I, 7,666 30 - BH) 1 12 Il 70 190 2 99 Total 7,736 223 2 134 1 12 There were also a conger, seven anglers, twenty-two sprats, five picked dog-fishes, an armed-bullhead, a little or yellow sole, and a sting ray (Trygon). The proportions of the plaice and haddocks of different sizes is indicated in the following Table :— : 4 ve Unmarket- Large. | Medium. | Small. Fourths. alla: Nostra ; 100 261 438 753 100 Plaice Average per Hour , 34 9-0 15:1 26°0 34 Nox : 1,033 879 5,754 - 70 Had- dock Average per Hour : 35°6 30°3 198°4 - 2°4 In a haul for an hour, in from eight to thirteen fathoms, with the small-meshed net around the cod-end, 1522 fishes were captured, belonging to fifteen species, as follows :— Brill, - - - 1 Coal-fish, - - 1 Plaice, - - - 364 Gurnard, - - » 33 Lemon Dab, - 3 Pogge, - - 4 Common Dab, - 724 Sprat, - - 43 Little Sole, - . 8 Sting Ray, : 1 Cod, - . - 8 Thornback, - 1 Haddock, - Mie ioe) Piked Dog-fish, - 1 Whiting, - - 233 After leaving the Dornoch Firth the vessel steamed to the grounds oft Lybster, where five hauls were made in twenty-three and twenty-four fathoms of water and good catches of haddocks got. In the first, which was for one hour, 1008 fishes were taken, of which 956 were marketable and fifty-two unmarketable. The haddocks numbered 904, all but four marketable ; there were also fifty-one whitings, fourteen plaice, five lemon 36 Part II].—Twenty-second Annual Report dabs, and thirty common dabs. The next drag, for two hours, yielded 2740 fishes—2674 being marketable and sixty-six unmarketable. The number of haddocks caught was 2463 (twenty basketfuls), all except nine marketable ; there were also 224 whitings and a few flat-fishes. The third haul, for three hours, was scarcely so good, 2810 fishes being taken, of which 2665 were marketable. The catch included 2008 haddocks, nineteen codlings, twenty-six plaice, four lemon dabs, and eighty-six common dabs. The five drags here—the time of actual fishing being thirteen hours— produced altogether 9992 fishes, or at the rate of 768°6 per hour; the marketable numbered 9536, the average per hour being 732°5, and the unmarketable 456, with an average per hour of 35:1. The total number of haddocks was 8063, of which only forty-nine were unmarketable, the average per hour’s fishing being 620°2, Only 349 flat-fishes were caught in the five hauls, and of these 108 were marketable, consisting of eighty-two plaice and twenty-six lemon dabs ; the unmarketable were 241 common dabs. The following Table gives the numbers of the marketable and unmarket- able fishes respectively :— : Lemon |Common Cod- | Had-| Whit-) Gur- /Thorn-) Ang- HE Dab. Dab. cad ling. | dock.| ing. | nard. back. ler. Ts 82 26 - 25 45 | 8,014) 1,315} 27 2 Le - - 241 - 28 AST 12:18 a6 - 1 Total 82 26 241 25 73 | 8,063 | 1,436 | 43 2 1 The haddocks were on the whole of a good class, 2078 being firsts, 1530 mediums, and 4406 thirds, the respective averages per hour’s fishing being as follows :— Firsts. Seconds, Thirds, Fourths. Unmarketable. No. 2,078 1,530 4,406 — 49 Average 159°8 OU ETE 3389°0 — 3°8 Of the eighty-two plaice obtained, seven were large or firsts, sixty-four were mediums, and eleven thirds. A small-meshed haul was made here for one hour, but the fine net was torn. The number of fishes taken was 1034, as follows :— Plaice, - - a Cod, - - - 9 Lemon Dab, . 5 Haddock, - - 906 Common Dab, - 49 Whiting, - - Ol Before leaving the Moray Firth two hauls were made on Smith Bank, on the edge, in about twenty-one and twenty-two fathoms. The first, for an hour, with the small-meshed net attached, yielded 1300 fishes, of which 350 were marketable and 950 unmarketable. The latter chiefly consisted of common dabs and whitings, and the former of haddocks. The total for both nets was 1811 fishes, belonging to twelve species, as follows :— Plaice, - - - $i Haddock, - - 306 Common Dab, - 962 Whiting, - - 442 Lemon Dab, Shee) Gurnard, - ay yaills Long Rough Dab,- 20 Pogge,- - 4 Little Sole, - - 1 Gobius minutus, 1 Cod, - eupiee (0) Dragonet, - - 4 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 37 The second drag was for three hours:and forty minutes, and the number of fishes taken was 1236, 980 being marketable and 256 unmarketable. They included 107 cod, twenty-seven codlings, all marketable, a ling, 796 haddocks, all but ten marketable, thirty-four plaice, all marketable, fifteen lemon dabs, and some whitings and common dabs. The haddocks were mostly of the third or small class, only thirty being firsts and 110 seconds. Another haul with the small-meshed net around the cod-end was made at the “ witch ground” about twelve miles off Kinnaird Head, the depth being fifty-one fathoms, and the duration of the haul one hour. The total number of fishes taken in both nets was 2187, belonging to eleven species ; no witches were captured. The numbers of each kind were as follows :— Plaice, - - - 3 Whiting, - E PAge Common Dab, - 412 Norway Pout, - 613 Long Rough Dab, 269 Gurnard, - 2 12 Cod, - = : 1! Gobius minutus, - 1 Hake, - . - 6! Angler, - - 1 Haddock, - - 447 | The aggregate number of fish taken in twenty-four recorded hauls in this trip in the Moray Firth and Aberdeen Bay—the duration of the actual fishing being seventy-seven hours and forty minutes—was 49,728. Of these, 41,787 were brought to market and 7941 thrown overboard. The quantity, in cwts., as determined by the Fishery Officer when the fish were landed, was as follows, the total being 2712 cwts. :— Cod, Codling. Ling. Hake. Haddock. Whiting. O98 174 4 g 1434 144 Turbot. Brill. Lemon Dab. _Plaice. Dabs. Witches. g 1 23 < z 3 Conger. Skate. Gurnard. Angler. 3h 2 1 Vi At the end of October six hauls in Aberdeen Bay were made by the steam-trawler ‘‘ Lochryan,” four of which were recorded. In the first, in from eight to fifteen fathoms of water, and which lasted for two hours and twenty minutes, 835 fishes were taken, of which 675 were marketable and 160 unmarketable. The catch included twenty-nine cod, forty-three codlings, all marketable, 399 haddocks, 338 whitings, seven plaice, a brill, and a common sole. In the second haul, in from seven and a half to twelve fathoms, for four hours and thirty-five minutes, 1066 fishes were taken, the number marketable being 930. There were 106 cod, 151 codlings, all except six marketable, four coalfish, 320 haddocks, only eleven of which were unmarketable, 308 plaice, and a number of whitings and others. The succeeding two hauls were rather better, haddocks especially being more abundant, and altogether in the four drags—the time of actual fishing being fifteen hours and twenty-five minutes—6042 fishes were taken, of which 4654 were narketable and 1388 unmarketable, the average per hour’s fishing being for the whole catch 392°1, for the marketable 302-0, and for the unmarketable 90:1. The average per hour for haddocks was 196°3, for whitings 117°5, and for 38 Part II1I—Twenty-second Annual Report plaice 33°5, The numbers of fishes of the various kinds, marketable (1.) and unmarketable (II.), were as follows :— Long ° Common} Floun- | Lemon ‘ : Plaice. DEL dae Dab. Sole. Brill. Roush Cod. I 507 40 5 3 Dy) 1 197 II 10 33 2 Total 517 73 5 3 2 1 2 197 Codling. | Haddock. | Whiting. | Coal-fish. | Gurnard. |Thornback SEIEY Ray. i 322 2,863 709 4 - 1 1B 22 162 1,101 - 9 2 47 Total 344 3,025 1,810 4 9 3 47 In a haul with the small-meshed net, which lasted for an hour, the total number of fishes taken was 1981, belonging to ten species, as follows :— Plaice, - - =f pod Haddock, - - 1190 Lemon Dab, - 1 Whiting, - =) COL Common Dab, : 6 Gurnard, - . 6 Long Rough Dab, 2 Sprat, - - 2 Cod, - - - 45 Grey Skate, —- 1 The total quantity of fish landed, in cwts., was as follows, the time of fishing (including the incompletely recorded drags) being nineteen hours and five minutes :— Cod. Codling. Coal-fish. Haddock. Whiting. Turbot. Plaice. Dabs. 25 74 n 21 44 4 7 4 =664 aL! The next series of trawling experiments was made in November, the vessel employed being the steam-trawler ‘Glenogil,” and the places examined were Aberdeen Bay, Burghead Bay, the Dornoch Firth, between Burghead and Cromarty, and Smith Bank. Four hauls were made in Aberdeen Bay on 6th and 7th November, off Newburgh, and between Black Dog and Collieston. In the first, in from eight to ten fathoms, which lasted for three hours, 1383 fishes were secured, 1314 of which were marketable and sixty-nine unmarketable. The former consisted mostly of haddocks and whitings ; of 1013 haddocks taken, 977 were marketable and thirty-six unmarketable, and of 32] whitings all but eighteen were marketable. The other fishes comprised one cod, twenty-seven codlings, a few dabs and gurnards, as well as six herrings and two sprats. Only two plaice were caught in this drag. Most of the haddocks belonged to the third and fourth classes, only 135 were “large” and sixty-nine “medium.” The smallest haddocks amongst the unmarketable measured six and seven inches in length, of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 39 The next haui in the same locality, in five and a half to twelve fathoms, lasting for two hours, yielded only seventy-one fishes, and there was nothing apparent to account for the very small catch. The marketable fish consisted of thirteen haddocks—viz., one large, six medium, and six fourths—twenty-four whitings, one plaice, and one dab. Other two hauls were made in from four and a half to twelve fathoms, bat the catches were small, the marketable fishes consisting chiefly of haddocks, plaice, and whitings. Altogether in the four hauls made in Aber- dren Bay—the actual time of fishing being twelve hours and five minutes —the total number of fishes captured was 2630, the average per hour being 217-7; the number of marketable was 2394, with an average of 198-2, and the unmarketable 236, with an average of 19:5. The haddocks numbered 1485, the average per hour’s fishing being 122°9 ; the whitings 573, with an average of 47:4, and the plaice 379, with an average of 31:3. The numbers of the marketable (I.) and the unmarketable (II.) of each _ kind are shown in the following Table :— Common ous Plaice. Dab Rough Brill. Cod. | Codling, |Haddock. rt Dab. I. 378 27 - 2 3 77 1,417 Il. 1 6 14 - - 13 68 Total 379 33 11 2 3 90 1,485 Whiting. | Gurnard. eerey ened a Herring.| Sprat. I 490 Il. a i 3 1 7 7 2 atte sess | oem eee AS [ree Dene EM pes en ees ma eh re te Total 573 24 3 1 17 7 2 The vessel then landed the fish which had been caught in Aberdeen Bay before proceeding to the Moray Firth, and the quantities as recorded in the market, by the Fishery Officer, in cwts. were as follows :— Cod. Codling, Haddock. Whiting. Plaice. 1 1 74 13 2 In the Moray Firth the first place visited was Burghead Bay, where five hauls were made, four of which were recorded. In the first, which lasted for three hours and ten minutes, 1682 fishes were caught, of which 1365 were marketable and 317 unmarketable. Among the former were eleven cod, 506 haddocks, ten whitings, nine brill, 790 plaice, and thirty- four common dabs. The unmarketable were composed mostly of small haddocks and gurnards. In the second drag, lasting for four hours and fifteen minutes, 2421 fishes were taken, 1930 marketable and 491 unmarketable. The greater part of the catch again consisted of plaice and haddocks. It also included a turbot, ten brill, and a black or common sole. The number of fishes taken in the third haul, which lasted four hours, was 1779, the number marketable being 1273. They consisted 40 Part ITT.—Twenty-second Annual Report for the most part of plaice, of which 1158 were obtained. There were only seventy-five small haddocks, twenty-five marketable and fifty too small to be marketable. In this drag no less than thirty-one brill were taken, a number that is scarcely ever reached in these trawling operations, and there were also five turbot. The fourth drag lasted for two hours and thirty-five minutes, and 1131 fishes were captured, of which 733 were marketable and 398 unmarketable. Only twenty-five small and unmarketable haddocks were caught in this drag ; the market- able plaice numbered 678, and there were seven brill. During the time of fishing in the Bay the weather was favourable, though somewhat squally, with rain, the wind blowing from the west. The aggregate number of fishes taken in the four hauls in the fourteen hours of actual fishing was 7013, of which 5301 were marketable and 1712 unmarketable. The average catch per hour’s fishing was for the marketable 378°6, and for the unmarketable 122°3; the average for both combined was 500-9. The number of plaice caught was 3588, the average per hour being 256°3, and the number of haddocks 1823, with an average of 130-2. The numbers of the marketable and unmarketable of each species are given in the following Table :— Plaice. pe Witch. Tene RB Sole Turbot. Brill. ile 3,476 238 6 ) it 6 57 IL. 112 584 - - - - - Total 3,588 822 6 9 1 6 By Cod. Codling. | Haddock, } Whiting. | Gurnard. boo Angler. back. I 19 66 1,358 36 23 6 1 - 35 465 99 396 9 12 Total 19 101 1,823 135 396 32 18 With regard to the general size of the plaice and haddocks captured, the great majority were small. Especially was this the case with the haddocks, only six of the large and forty-five of the medium being taken. The numbers of each class and the average per hour's fishing are given in the following Table :— ris , i Offal or Firsts. Seconds. Thirds. Fourths. Unmarketable. f 6 45 ide 1,230 465 Haddock, (0-4 3:9 5:5 88:0 83'2 d (77 575 2,824 - 112 Plaice, 155 411 201°7 = 80 On leaving Burghead Bay the vessel steamed to the Dornoch Firth, where a number of hauls were made, the weather being calm and the sea smooth, a light wind coming from the north-west. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. Al The first drag was made in from five to thirteen fathoms, off Golspie. It Jasted for four hours and five minutes, and the catch was a good one, the marketable fishes numbering 2346, the unmarketable 1139, and the aggregate 3485. Plaice and haddocks formed the bulk of the catch; of the former 2166 were taken, 1264 of which were marketable and 902 unmarketable. Most of the plaice were of small size, only five being large, 167 medium, and 1092 thirds, while the offal in this haul num- bered 902. Some of these, however, were quite large enough to go to market as fourths, and after this fourths were also selected. I found that the sizes of the larger specimens of the “unmarketable” plaice were on this occasion between nine and eleven inches: I give the measurements of seventy-six of the larger ones, in centimetres and inches :— Centimetres, . | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 80 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 fighess) & | Sil =| Se Geb ss] Toe) Be | ry eg) 4 ton) 2 |) Sh ray Nome 4 Os 5tl 98 Op Si) ae) ese Wi cl Bh ele L ) The larger of these plaice were in reality ‘‘ thirds” ; but the selection, as previously mentioned, is never quite exact. The next haul, in the same locality, was for four hours and twenty-five minutes, but the fishing was chiefly conducted in from eight to ten fathoms. The number of fishes taken was 1808, of which 1368 were marketable and 440 unmarketable. Haddocks were much scarcer, only 375 being caught, and it may be said generally in regard to this fish at this time in the Dornoch Firth that the quantity taken in the various hauls varied very much, there being sometimes only a few and sometimes over a thousand. They were obviously present, as the trawlers describe it, in “spots.” The plaice numbered 1237, of which 978 were market- able; there were in addition thirty-two codlings, eight whitings, four brill, twenty-two common dabs, and a thornback ray among the market- able fishes. The number of fishes caught in the next haul, which lasted for four hours and a half, was 2514, the marketable being 1902 and the unmarketable 612. The haddocks numbered 1282, of which 271 were unmarketable. There were 995 plaice, 881 of them marketable, and in addition to these the marketable fishes included two cod, six codlings, one halibut, and one megrim. The unmarketable consisted mostly of haddocks, dabs, plaice, and gurnards, In the fifth drag, in from six to ten fathoms, only nineteen haddocks were taken, and of these thirteen were unmarketable. The plaice numbered 2101, all but 184 being marketable. The next drag, for five hours, yielded 3033 fishes, 2337 being marketable and 696 unmarketable. There were 634 haddocks, 1981 plaice, 1661 marketable, 371 common dabs, six lemon dabs, and seventeen brill. Altogether in the six hauls, involving twenty six hours and forty minutes of actual fishing, 14,404 fishes were eaptured, the rate per hour being the high one of 541°5. The marketable numbered 10,919, with an average of 410°4 per hour, and the unmarketable 3485, with an hourly average of 131-0. The average per hour for the plaice taken was 350°4, and for those which were marketable 277°2 ; the average for the haddocks 42 Part 11. —Twenty-second Annual Report was 140°5 per hour. The numbers of the marketable and unmarketable, and the totals, are as follow :— Cod. |Codling.| Haddock.| Wbit | piaice. |Cammon| prin, | Yemen ing. Dab i 24 78 3,253 10 7,873 129 25 15 Ti - Bl 485 4 1,948 746 - 3 Total 24 109 3,738 14 9,321 875 25 18 Long Gur Grey | Th Sand ; 5 : yey orn- andy Halibut.| Megrim. Hough pard: Sieatatl| i thanie: Ray. Angler. I 1 2 1 8 II - 6 213 - BH) 3 ll Total 1 2 6 213 1 43 3 ll Among the haddocks the proportion of large and medium was con- siderable, and much above what it was on many previous occasions ; medium plaice were also well represented. The following figures give the average number of each class taken per hour’s fishing :— First. Second, Third. Fourth. Unmarketable. Haddock, 24°6 24°6 3By 39°6 18:2 Plaice, 11 43°4 137°6 95:0 13°2 In the Dornoch Firth three hauls were also made with the small- meshed net around the cod-end, in from four and a half to twelve fathoms, the time occupied in fishing being three hours and fifty minutes. The number of fishes taken in both nets amounted to 11,590, the great majority having passed through the meshes of the cod-end. They belonged to eleven species, as follows :— Plaice, - - - $27 Gurnard, - - 4 Brill, - . - 1 Sprat, - - 9851 Common Dab, - 28 Herring, - - 1407 Cod, - - . 4 Sand-eel, - - 3 Haddock, - = 15 23 Thornback Ray, 1 Whiting, - - 44] Most of the sprats were taken in one haul, viz. 5477, and most of the herrings in another, 1297. On leaving the Dornoch Firth the vessel returned to Burghead Bay, where other three drags were made in from five to ten fathoms, a fresh breeze blowing from the south, and a considerable number of plaice were taken. The hauls were also remarkable for the large number of brill captured, the three drags yielding in succession thirty-six, forty-three, and fifteen—a total of ninety-four. Seven turbots were also caught. The aggregate number of fishes secured in the three drags, the time of actual fishing being fourteen hours, was 5367, an average per hour of 383°4. The marketable fishes numbered 3817, with an average per hour of 272-6, and the unmarketable 1550, with an hourly average of 110-7. These averages are under those for the fishing in the same place a few of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 43 days before. In the following Table are given the number of marketable (I) and unmarketable (IT.) fishes taken in the three drags :— Cod. Codling. Haddock. | Whiting. | Plaice. Brill, i 84 87 190 - 3,274 94 II. - 34 98 8 464 Total 84 121 288 8 3,738 94 SE BB WSR UI LS SRS] Turbot Lemon Dab. es 4 Gurnard. nore: Angler. I Uj 6 70 5 II 3 600 322 10 11 Total if 9 670 322 15 11 A short haul of one hour’s duration was then taken off Burghead Bay, between it and Cromarty, in thirty fathoms, with the small-meshed net around the cod-end of the otter-trawl. The total number of fishes taken in both nets was 1805, belonging to fourteen species, as follows :— Witch, - - - 101 | Hake, - - = 2 Plaice, - - - 4 | Ling, - - - - 1 Common Dab, - - 130] Gurnard, - - - 46 Long Rough Dab, - 705 | Norway Pout, - - 432 Whiting, - - - 339 | Gadus luscus, - - 7 Haddock, - - - 29 | Callionymus maculata, - 2 Codling, - . - 4 | Lumpenus lampetriformis, 3 Simnith Bank was then visited, and a haul with the small-meshed net attached was made in twenty-one fathoms for one hour. The tying of the outer net was defective ; the knot slipped, and all the fish escaped. In the cod-end were thirty-three haddocks, three cod, five plaice, one lemon dab, five common dabs, and an angler. The quantity of fish landed by the vessel, as recorded on returning to port amounted to 2183 cwts., as follows :— Cod. Codling. Haddock, Turbot. Brill. 18 34 58 4 6 Plaice. Dabs. Witch. Skate. Angler. 115 34 2 11 2 VE, The next series of trawling investigations was made on board the * Lochryan,” on 11th and 12th December, in Aberdeen Bay, a strong breeze blowing from the south, with a rough sea and rain. The catches were small, but, as often occurs in such conditions of weather, a consider- able number of cod were secured. ‘Three recorded hauls were made off the Black Dog in from four and a half to ten fathoms of water, the duration of the actual trawling being twelve hours and ten minutes. The total number cf fishes caught in each haul was respectively 344, 44 Part ITI.—Twenty-second Annual Report 243, and 191, the aggregate being 778, with the very low average per hour's fishing of 63-9. The marketable numbered 702, giving an aver- age per hour of 57:7, and the unmarketable numbered seventy-six. The hourly average for cod was 13-0 and for codling 24'5, while it was only 16:8 for haddocks and 1°6 for plaice. The numbers of the various kinds taken were as follows :— ee I Bad: Wawint: |) Coals (\,". Com. | Starry Cod. | Coding aoek. ing. fish. Brill || eenee: Dab. Ray. Teetlvel5S pl e208 eu e205 | 14 : 1 19 7 II. u : . 21 5 : s 3 50 re Seer ———— ee SS SS Total] 158 | 298 | 205 35 5 i 19 7 50 \ i Two hauls were also made with the small-meshed net around the cod- end of the otter-trawl. In the first of these, which lasted for one hour and twenty minutes, and was made in from eight to twelve fathoms, the total catch was one cod, four codlings, fourteen whitings, two common dabs, one sand-eel, one goby, twenty-two small herrings (from one and three-quarter inches to nearly five inches), and seventy-four sprats. In the second, on the same grounds for one hour, but in seven fathoms, only a single fish—a starry ray—was taken. Vile Towards the end of December another series of trawling investigations was carried on in Aberdeen Bay and the Moray Firth, on board the steam-trawler “Star of the Ocean.” Several hauls were taken in Aberdeen Bay on the 23rd and 24th of the month, off Slains Castle, in from ten to thirty fathoms, but the net was usually torn, and the catches were very poor. In the first, which lasted for four hours and twenty minutes, 206 fishes were caught, 182 being marketable. Seventy-seven cod were taken, but only seven haddocks and sixty-six plaice, most of the latter being “thirds.” In the next drag, for three hours and a half, the catch was reduced to 108 fishes, twenty-three being cod, and there was the same number of plaice, but only five haddocks. The catch of the third haul was still less, viz. sixty fish, twenty-six being cod, eight had- docks, and eleven plaice. In each case, however, the net was torn on the bottom. Two other unrecorded hauls were made, and the aggregate quantity of fish landed from the five hauls amounted to 303 ewts., viz. 22 ewts. of cod, 2? cwts. of codlings, 23? cwts. of haddocks, 13 cwts. of plaice, and 14 cwts. of skates. On the 25th a number of drags were taken at Burghead Bay, in the Moray Firth, the wind being light, from the south-west, and the weather foggy, and with much better results. In the first of the two recorded, which was in from eight to eleven fathoms, for five hours and five minutes, 1149 fishes were taken, 353 marketable and 796 unmarketable. The catch was chiefly made up of haddocks, mostly small; of a total of 727, the number thrown overboard as unmarketable was 604; there were only three large and no mediums. ‘The second haul, for five hours and ten minutes, yielded 3055 fishes, of which 784 were marketable and 2271 unmarketable. The total number of haddocks captured was 2458, and of these 2086 were too small to be marketable. In the two hauls, the time of fishing being ten hours and fifteen minutes, 4204 fishes were of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 45 taken, 1137 marketable and 3067 unmarketable. The numbers of the two classes are as follows :— » || eee 3 £ = 3 3 : : 3 Ses 3 Qiao. eS Seek sal eet esi a ee es 5 os) as = Ay aa o) = aR & |AgZe ] 12 9} 495] 196] 366 21 Br) 2 1 Il. 26 |2,690 | 228 14 91 11 7 Total 12 35 [38,185 | 424] 380 21 126 2 1 11 / The very foggy weather which prevailed interfered with fishing operations near the shore; partly for this reason the vessel shifted its position and made a haul in from sixteen to twenty-five fathoms off Tarbet Ness, The drag. lasted for one hour and forty-five minutes, and it was found that the net was considerably torn. The catch was small, amounting to 543 fishes, of which 431 were marketable and 112 unmarketable. The number of haddocks taken was 338, of which 315 were marketable ; there were seventy plaice, fifty-two being marketable, thirteen marketable codlings, five coal-fish, forty-two whitings, twenty-seven marketable, as well as six lemon dabs and sixty-three common dabs. Two or three hauls were then made in the Dornoch Firth, in from seven to twelve fathoms, but the work was difficult owing to the thick fog, and in one of the drags the net was foul and came up without any fish. Ina recorded haul, which lasted for four hours, the number of fishes caught was 1095, of which the marketable amounted to 933 and the unmarketable to 162. The catch included 825 haddocks, all but 55 being marketable, as well as eight cod, two turbot, four brill, 148 plaice, and some dabs. On the 27th a haul was made for sixty-five minutes, in from eight to ten fathoms, with the small-meshed net, around the cod- end, The total number of fishes taken in the two nets was 880, belong- ing to sixteen species. On the following day another similar drag was taken with the small-meshed net for an hour, and they may be both considered together. The following is a list of the numbers of each kind of fish caught in the two drags, nineteen species being represented, and the total being 3657 fishes :— iRIgICey a) es. 122 Gurnard, ... 10 Lemon Dab, 4 Sprat, 808 Common Dab, re 845 Herring, 4 Long Rough Dab, 24 Pogge, ES st 8 Little Sole, : ba 18 Gobius minutus, ... 2 Brill, sts Bee “ee 4 Dragonet, 4 Witch, : 1 Common Pipe- fish, 3 Cod, 20 Angler, ... sak 8 Haddock, 57 Thornback, Uf Whiting, ... 1,708 From the Dornoch the vessel steamed to the grounds off Lybster, where a drag was made for four hours and a quarter in from eighteen to twenty-two fathoms. The net was found to have been badly split on coming up, and the catch was very small, amounting to only sixty-two fishes, all marketable. The catch included two cod, forty-four haddocks, and a few plaice and whitings. ‘he next place visited was Smith Bank, where a haul was made in twenty-seven and twenty-eight fathoms, on the edge of the bank, for 46 Part I1T-—Twenty-second Annual Report sixty-five minutes, the small-meshed net being around the cod-end. The total number of fishes taken was considerable, viz. 1673, and they belonged to twenty-one species; some of them, as the young conger (Leptocephalus) and the thick-back sole, were of much scientific interest. Rlaice;mey we. a of 19 Sprat, 6 Lemon Dab, Sed see 20 Gurnard, 8 Common Dab, _... Se ee Goby (sp.), 6 Little Sole, nee ie 47 Pogge, .. 8 Thickback, sos 1 Gemmeous Dr agonet, 14 Long Rough Dab, Are 3 Spotted Se 2 Haddock, ... : 5p 25 Sand-eel, ... 54 Whiting, ... 458 Sap 141 Leptoc cephalus, 1 Cod, ae ae 38 Piked Dog-fish, 1 Norway Pout, a ae 153 Starry Ray, 1 Poor Cod, . = si 1 From the commercial point of view, however, the fishing on Smith Bank was not of a profitable kind, and the vessel returned to Burghead Bay on the 28th, where a number of hauls were taken, three of which were com- pletely recorded. In the first, which was for five hours and a quarter, in from five to thirteen fathoms, 1198 fishes were taken, of which 567 were marketable and 631 unmarketable. The catch included nine cod, thirty- two codlings, all but seven marketable, 713 haddocks, the majority being again very small and 540 of them unmarketable, three turbot, thirty- seven brill, 306 plaice, all marketable, and a few others. ‘The second drag, for five hours, yielded only 269 fishes, of which 110 were marketable. Of 120 haddocks caught only three were marketable, and the other marketable fishes comprised one turbot, nine brill, sixty- three plaice, and twenty-seven common dabs. The third haul, in from four and a half to ten fathoms, was even less productive, only 193 fishes being caught, of which 111 were marketable and 82 unmarketable. None of the fifty-six haddocks taken were marketable, but there were seven brill and ninety-nine plaice, a cat-fish, two cod, and a thornback ray. In the three hauls, occupying altogether fourteen hours and a quarter of actual fishing, only 1660 fishes were taken, 788 being marketable and 872 unmarketable. The general average per hour’s fishing is thus a very low one, viz. 116°5, while the average for the marketable alone is 55:3, The particulars regarding the different kinds of fish are given in the following Table :— Cod. Codling. | Haddock. | Whiting. | Plaice. Turbot. Brill. I 18 25 176 - 468 4 53 II 16 713 40 Total 18 41 889 40 468 4 53 Common Lemon : yurnard, Cat-fish. Rough Dab. Dab. mabe back. I 37 3 2 - 2 Il 79 22 - 2 : of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 47 A haul with the small-meshed net was also taken in Burghead Bay for seventy-five minutes, in from five to twelve fathoms, and the total number of fish caught was only 173, as follows :-—— Plaice, oa oe Ea 458 a) NVhitines es 59 Common Dab, ... ae 11 Sprat, a 7 Brill, see ie ws 4 Herring, .. 3 Turbot, Ae a oA 1 Long Rough Dab, 1 Cod, ... ae ae oe 6 Sand-eel, ... 2 Haddock, ... as até 34 Another drag with the small-meshed net was taken on the so-called “ witch ground” between Burghead Bay and the Suters of Cromarty, in thirty and thirty-one fathoms, and it lasted for an hour. The total number of fishes caught was 2112, belonging to twenty species. The numbers of each kind are as follows :— Halibut, ... ae a 1 Norway Pout, ... Lis 307 Watch)... ane = 73 Hake, ae Set re 2 IPinices 2 a: i: as 6 Herring, ... ies Ais 31 Common Dab, _... aCe 151 Sprat, fs me 50 356 Long Rough Dab, See 696 Sand-eel, Ws 1 Thickback Sole, ... 1 Tnumpenus, 6 Cod, ee on ah 3 Goby (sp.) 1 Haddock, ... ar se 1 Angler, 1 Whiting, ... ae Sas 470 Starry Ray, 3 Gurnard, ... Avs oe 1 Thornback, 1 Before the vessel left the Moray Firth a few hauls were taken at night off Lossiemouth in twenty and twenty-one fathoms, but the net suffered much and was usually found split when it was hauled. The particulars of these hauls were not recorded ; but in the first the catch included two baskets of large haddocks, one basket of mediums, and three baskets of thirds, as well as two cod, twenty lemon dabs, half a basket of plaice, and half a basket of whitings. The offal thrown overboard consisted of seven basketfuls, mostly of small haddocks. On the way to port a small-meshed drag was taken in Aberdeen Bay on 29th December. It was made in from eight to seventeen fathoms, and lasted for an hour. The total number of fishes caught was 4270, the great bulk consisting of small whitings. The numbers of the various species are as follows :— Plaice, ee te ne 10 Herring, «... 16 Common Dab, fh 5 Sprat, 8 a a 39 Long Rough Dab, Be 5 Gurnard, ... uns a 1 Haddock, ... : ve 173 Pogge, 2 Cod, ee ite ox 9 Liparis, 2 Whiting, eed ae ... 4,007 Sand-eel, 1 The total quantity of fish, in cwts., landed from this trip was recorded by the Fishery Officer as follows :— Cod. Codling. Coal-fish. Haddock. Whiting. Turbot. Halibut. 184 2 4 272 3h 4 z Brill. Lemon Dab, Plaice, Dabs. Witches. Cat-fish. Skate. 1} 1 284 1} 4 4 i The quantity was small, considering the duration of fishing, but the foggy weather which prevailed for a large part of the time somewhat hampered the operations. It was noticed also that young herrings and sprats did not form so large a proportion of the small fishes caught in the small-meshed net as was usually the case. Foreign trawlers, moreover, were observed to be fishing in some numbers in the Firth at the time, and three of them were working along with us on Smith Bank. D 48 Part I1[.—Twenty-second Annual Report IX. In August a record was kept of the hauls made by the steam-trawler “ Glenogil” on the fishing grounds lying off the mouth of the Firth of Forth. The vessel left Aberdeen on the 17th August, and ran for about sixty miles on a course S. 4 E. from Girdleness, and continued fishing southwards for several days, landing the catches at Granton, to about thirty-four miles S.E. of the Isle of May. The weather was good and the sea calm. The grounds visited on this trip, as may be seen from a chart, lie off St. Abb’s Head and the coast of Berwickshire and Northumberland, and are much fished by the trawlers belonging to Granton. The first drag was made in thirty-four and thirty-five fathoms, about thirty miles E. 3 S. of the Isle of May, and it lasted for three hours. The catch was a moderate one, the number of fishes taken being 608, of which only 381 were marketable. They consisted almost entirely of haddocks, which numbered 519, the marketable numbering 360; the other marketable fishes were seven codlings, nine whitings, and five lemon dabs. The unmarketable were made up of haddocks, whitings, and gurnards. The next three shots were much the same both in regard to species and amount, the bulk of the catches being composed of haddocks, but there were in addition a few cod, coal-fish, plaice, and ling. After- wards the catches improved. In the sixth haul, which was for three hours and five minutes, 2145 fishes were captured, 1713 being market- able. The haddocks numbered 1755, of which 1535 were marketable ; there were also 130 marketable whitings, one cod, nineteen codlings, twelve plaice, and sixteen lemon dabs. The unmarketable consisted entirely of haddocks, whitings, and gurnards. Succeeding hauls were nearly as productive, the totals varying from 1243 to 2991, the duration of the drags being generally a little over three hours. In all of them haddocks formed the great bulk of the catch, the rest of the marketable fishes being made up of whitings, cod- lings, a few cod, ling, and coa!-fishes ; the flat-fishes were represented by small numbers of lemon dabs, plaice, and common dabs. Altogether, in twelve hauls, up to the afternoon of the 19th August, the time of actual fishing being thirty-nine hours and twenty minutes, the number of fishes caught was 17,569, of which 13,874 were market- able and 3695 unmarketable. The average number taken per hour's fishing was 353:0 for the marketable, 94:0 for the unmarketable, and 447°1 for both combined. The totals of each kind are given in the following Table, the market- able (I.) being distinguished from the unmarketable (II.) :— Cod. Codling. | Haddock. | Whiting. | Coal-fish. Ling. Hake. I 27 373 12,464 711 19 8 1 i: - 89 2,264 695 Total 27 462 14,728 1,406 19 8 1 Plaice. eae ees eee ugh! Gurnard. Angler. Tr 92 176 3 II 35 85 514 13 Total 92 176 38 85 514 13 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 49 The haddocks were by far the most important part of the catch, the average number taken per hour being 374°7 ; the rate for the marketable was 317:1 and for the unmarketable 57-6. The particulars for the majority of the fishes, showing the rate per hour, are as follows :— Marketable. Unmarketable. Total. Haddock, . : : 5 : 3171 57°6 3747 Whiting, . : c : : 18:1 17°6 35'8 Codling, . : ; ; : 9°5 2:2. akty/ Lemon Dab, . ; : ‘ 4:5 - 4°5 Plaice, : ; F : ‘ 2°3 ~ 2:3 Gurnard, . : : ‘ , = 13°1 13:1 On the 20th and 21st August a number of other hauls were made about fifty miles E. by S. from the Isle of May, off the coast of Northumberland, in from thirty-four to thirty-six fathoms. The catch was of much the same character, consisting mostly of haddocks, with some whitings, codlings, plaice, lemon dabs, common dabs, gurnards, and an occasional cod. The record of one of the hauls was not completely taken, the unmarket- able fishes being omitted, but in the other four, the time of actual fishing being thirteen hours and twenty minutes, 7257 fishes were taken, the number of marketable being 6342 and of unmarketable 915, The average per hour’s fishing was thus 476°8 for the marketable and 68°8 for the unmarketable, the general average being 5456. The total number of haddocks caught was 6292, of which 5811 were marketable; 443 whitings were taken, 294 being marketable, 140 codlings, forty plaice, eighty-one lemon dabs, and some others. The averages per hour’s fishing agree very well with those of the previous hauls above referred to :— Marketable. Unmarketable. Total. Haddock, . , : ; : 436°9 36'1 473°1 Whiting, . ; ‘ ‘ ‘ 22°71 12:2 33°3 Codling, . ; é ‘ . 8-1 2°4 10°5 Lemon Dab, . : ; s 6-0 ~ 6:0 Plaice, : : ‘ j : 3°0 ~ 30 Gurnard, . , : : ‘ - 12°4 12°4 | Tabuegs. 50 Part ITI.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. i peneaonl Fish Caught. epth Place. Date. g FI in =i ING No, ¥ & g |Fms-| 4s a Name. taken to| *hrown) Total & 5 6 g Bs Market.| Over | No. a|a|a a | board. 1903. . 1. Burghead] Feb. 7. 17 to| 7.30 | 11.45 | Cod, 8 c 8 Bay. 20 | p.m. | p.m. | Codling, 7 : Uf Burghead Haddock, .. 5 a8 5. Pier Whiting, e a uf light Brill, 1 z it bearing Plaice, 50 50 S.S.E. 4 Witch, E 86 8 94 miles. Com. Dab,.. 12 14 26 Grey Skate, ; 6 6 Starry Ray, 1 1 Angler, 4 18 22 Dragonet, .. 1 1 173 55 228 2. Burghead! Feb. 8. 17 to| 12.0} 4.0 | Cod, 14 ae 14 Bay. 20 | p.m. | a.m, | Codling, 4 BG 4 Burghead Haddock, .. 42 ae 42 Pier Whiting, .. 19 os 19 light Halibut, 1 is 1 bearing Turbot, 1 oe 1 S.S.E. 4 Brill, 3 oe 3 miles. Plaice, 128 se 128 Lemon Dab, 14 are 14 Witch, Bc 191 ie 191 Com. Dab, . ais 31 105 136 Long Rough Paps 3 84 84 Cat-fish, .. ; 2 ee 2 Thornback, 3 2 5 Starry Ray, 2 2 4 Angler, 8 36 44 463 229 692 3. Burghead a 18 to] 4.30 | 8.35 { Cod, 28 23 Bay. 25 | am. | a.m. | Codling, 55 5 60 Burghead Ling, 2 2 Pier Coal-fish, .. 1 1 light Haddock, .. 88 7 95 bearing Whiting, .. 23 a0 23 S 8.E. 4-5 Plaice, 21 se 21 miles. Lemon Dab, 38 fe 38 Witch, ne 197 52 249 Com. Dab, . : 5 97 102 Long Rough Dab, ae 53 53 Cat-fish, aS 2 Ag 2 Thornback, 4 oe 4 Starry Ray, 3 Se 3 Angler, 5 14 33 47 Herring, ae 2 2 476 249 u25 4. Burghead af 20 to | 10.10} 2.30 | Cod, 59 59 Bay. 30 a.m. | p.m. | Codling, 25 2 27 Burghead Ling, se 1 il Pier Coal-fish, .. 11 11 light Haddock, .. 89 a6 89 bearing Whiting, 7a 87 94 S.E. and by Brill, i! 2 1 E. 5-6 miles. Plaice, 5 8s aa 88 Lemon Dab, 6 ee 6 Witch. 273 s 273 ~ Com. Dab, . : 22 172 194 Long Rough Dab, ms 101 101 Thornback, ae 1 a 1 Angler, 3 7 10 Herring, ; 74 74 586 443 1029 Remarks. Strong N.N.W. breeze. Sea moderate. Net split. had = small Light wind W. and by 8. Place. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Date. 1903. 5. Burghead) Feb. 8. Bay. 6. Same Place. 7. Same Place. Feb. 8 & 9. Feb. 9. : Time Trawl Temperature. Down Depth cS) | in ; 8 o | Fms 2 3 S = Be) S 3 = o ao lta) 3 a | & 20 to | . 3.25 |. 4.55 30 | p.m. | p.m. ” 5.25 | 9.30 m. | p.m. Bs 10.0 | 2.45 p.m, | a.m. 350! || 730 a.m. | a.m. Fish Caught. Name. Cod, Codling, Haddock, .. Whiting, Plaice, Witch, . Com. Dab,.. Cod, Codling, Coal-fish, Haddock, .. Whiting, Plaice, Lemon Dab, Witch, Com. Dab, . Long Rough Dab, ‘ Thornback, Angler : Red Gurnard Cod, Codjing, Coal-fish, Haddock, .. Gurnard Plaice, Lemon Dab, Witch, Com. Dab, . Long Rough Dab, Starry Ray, Angler, . Red Gurnard, Herring, Cod, Codling, Coal-fish, Haddock, .. Whiting, Plaice, Lemon Dab, Witch, eS Com. Dab,.. Long Rough Dab, Thornback, Starry Ray, Angler, No. No. | thrown taken to} Over- Market.| board. 12 Ac 5 35 5 ac or 5 6 C 72 2 2 102 7 28 8 6 46 4 ae 7 81 a0 2 ac 422 = 19 162 we 109 3 ae 18 26 1 633 309 12 Jo 6 cic il 1 85 oe of 1 44 : 3 326 11 21 176 fe 132 4 2 19 31 Al 1 521 356 10 12 4 1 Be 38 Be 2 49 33 3c 10 36 204 118 15 135 oe 174 3 ae 2 4 39 51 417 535 Strong E.S.E. wind ireshepine) rules showers rain and sleet. 51 Remarks. Gear fouled. 52 Place. 9. Six miles East of Cromarty. 10. Same Place. 11. Same Place. 12. Five miles East of Cromarty Part [I11.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. Depth Date. 3 FI in 8 So | Fms. Pa = = 4 | melee 1903. Feb. 9. 25 to 30 Feb. 10. Time Trawl Down. | Shot. 6.55 p.m. 12.25 a.m. 5.45 a.m. | Hauled. 6.30 p.m. 11.10 p-m. 5.15 a.m. 10.30 a.m. Fish Caught. Name. Cod, Codling, .. Haddock, .. Whiting, Plaice, Lemon Dab, Witch, Com. Dab,. Flounder, we Long Rough Dab, : Thornback, Starry Ray, Angler, Sprat, Cod, Codling, Ling, ve Haddock, .. Whiting, .. Plaice, Lemon Dab, Witch, Com. Dab,. Long Rough Dab, Cat- fish, Starry Ray. Thornback, Cod, Codling,, Haddock, .. Whiting, Brill, Plaice, Lemon Dab, Witch, Com. Dab, . Long Rough Dab, Starry Ray ; Thornback, Cat-fish, Angler, Cod, Codling, Coal-fish, Haddock, .. Whiting, Brill, Sole, Plaice, Lemon Dab, Witch, Com. Dab, Flounder, .. Long Rough Dab, ‘ Starry Ray, Thornback, Sandy Ray, Angler, Herring, Sprat, No. taken to Market. bo DO OT ee Re ke - oO No. thrown One Total ke » ob mR OOD ie _ ive} . eo - 0 On FOONORRE Qeo- pale oo 10 2 board. c F 27 ; 10 ae 198 1 1 Ae 4 # 2 67 893 272 272 3 il 367 367 ws 25 a 29 6 9 2 2 715 1840 5 5 } 3 . il . 21 2 3 45 1 oe 5 117 279 17 a7, 11 11 : 1 6 2 147 355 22 9 Ae 159 14 14 ti 1 cf Tf As 4 76 490 263 263 112 112 4 52 23 1 3 3 472 1160 54 5 : i! : 86 11 11 sie 1 ite 1 “fe 6 ete 2: 121 1,079 543 553 ae 1 267 267 ah 18 10 3 6 8 i 1 10 10 959 2117 Remarks. Muddy bottom. Net badly split. Fresh 8.W. breeze. Place. Date. 1903. 13. Off | Feb. 12 Burghead | & 13. Bay. 14. Same Place. 15. Dornoch] Feb. 12. Firth. Feb. 12. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. 3 =| oO = eth s o = = =} fe) < Dn aa) Time Trawl Down. Depth wn in = Fms. s 3 ° a a | 10 to | 11.40 | 3.50 20 | p.m. | a.m. 10to}; 4 8.10 20 | am. | am. 6 to 12] 10.15 | 2.15 a.m. | p.m, 6 to 12} 3.20 | 7.20 p.m. | p.m. Fish Caught. Name. Cod, Codling, Coal-fish, Hake, ae Haddock, .. Whiting, .. Gurnard, Brill, Plaice, Lemon Dab, Witch, Com. Dab, . Long Rough Dab, ; Cat-fish, Starry Ray 4 Thornback, Sandy Ray Angler, Cod, Codling, Coal-fish, .. Haddock, .. Whiting, Turbot, Brill, Plaice, Lemon Dab, Witch, Com. Dab,. Flounder, Long Rough Dab, j Cat-fish, Thornback, Starry Ray, Sandy Ray, Angler, Herring, Cod, Codling, Haddock .. Whiting, Plaice Witch, Com. Dab,. Flounder, .. Long Rough Da, Cat-fish, Sandy Ray, Thornback, Angler, Cod, Codling, Brill, Plaice Com. Dab, Witch, Flounder, . Long Rough Dab, Thornback, Grey Skate . a oO. o. thrown taken to} Over- ata Market.) board. 2 17 3 17 19 ‘ 19 1 3 if 1 pi 1 54 ae 54 5 3 8 = 1 1 4 a 4 80 aa 80 3 sts 3 709 125 834 12 307 319 BS 118 118 1 ae 1 1 1 2 Se 1 1 1 é 1 19 32 51 927 588 1515 12 te 12 23 14 37 6 nt 6 32 5f 32 4 26 30 1 ns i 3 BF 3 115 ae 115 3 a: 3 381 254 635 56 542 598 2 br 2; xe 471 471 1 5 1 1 Ss 1 as 3 3 1 ae 1 21 32 53 Ha 5 5 662 1347 2009 eee SS OSS 2 F 2 7 ; 7 2 te 2 ae 2 2 254 2 256 2 19 21 24 74 98 27 a 27 ae 28 28 i E 1 1 1 1 1 1 A 1 322 125 | 447 4 4 2 2 4 4 209 a 209 10 116 126 1 2 3 66 a 66 ee 16 16 5 BE 5 é 1 1 301 135 436 53 Remarks. 54. Place. 17. Same Place. 18. Same Place. 19. Aber- deen Bay, off New- burgh. Part IIT. —Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. qe Trawl Fish Caught. own. Depth Date. 3 FE in = No. fe i 3 8 Fms. nS 2 No. | thrown Total a = = ° = Name. taken to) Over- No | 12.80 |5 a.m.) Haddock, .. Alte ee 1 Locality. a.m. Plaice (1), .. 20 is Be Sea) 156 B we (3) 150 Be & sy) MA) ) ae 102 ae ie —- 428) 2385 663 Com. Dab,.. 4 4 Thornback, 3 3 429} 242 671 13. Same oD A 5.30 | 7.30 | Cod, 1 “s 1 Locality. a.m. | am. | Brill, : 1 ae 1 Plaice (1), .. 9 ay ~ ae y(2); 44 at ee no (ese 46 a ee beet(4) 30 a “5 —- 129 40 169 Com. Dab,.. 23 23 Sprat, 57 1 1 131 64 195 14. Same = 10:9 | 11°8 | 8-9 5» | 8.40 | 12.40} Plaice (1), .. 18 : Locality. a.m. | p.m. a ED 69 ae a =) 1(8)}e Ba |paley a ‘. Slay 274 al ss —- 495 547 1042 Com. Dab,.. 32) 109 141 Gurnard, .. 23 23 Thornback, 1 a6 il 528) 679 1207 15. Same * A 1.30 | 6.30} Haddock (1), 2 aS 2 Locality. p.m. | p.m. | Plaice (1), .. 14 ae 5 aT) 100 a ap (3) 121 ae ae 5 Ohne 86 ¥: st — 321 210 531 Com. Dab, 2 96 98 Cat-fish, tees 1 Gurnard, .. 4 4 326) 310 636 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 63 TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. ane ee Fish Caught. __|Depth ; Place. Date. eo7|. 8 in wd No. Remarks. 3 Ss Fims. & a) No. | thrown Total ri 2 = 2 2 Name. taken to) Over- N * < RD fA 7a | Market.| board. ec E 1903. 16. Same | Junell; .. .. | .. |8to11] 7.30} 12.30 | Haddock (1), p> OAS eee 12 Locality. | & 12. | p.m. | a.m. | Plaice a 5 || ail a - | of 2);<» nes 64 ay A) (has 190 ae : (Dee 360 be ’ — 625] 700 | 1325 Com. Dab, as PY 156 156 | Gurnard, .. ae BD 3 30 637 886 1523 17. Same of e sis 3. .. |La.m./6a.m.| Cod, a & | ee 1 Locality. Haddock (1), ..| 14 ” (2), .. 2 — 16 ae 16 Hake, Sc ate 1 ats 1 Plaice (1),.. canilm@ 5 Le es a 2)ss 87 ore UA G@yor | ee, re * oe 10 7 emer as id — 471 352 823 Com. Dab,.. .. 12) 104 116 Flounder, .. - 2 1 3 Thornback, aS 4 Bc 4 . Cat-fish, are 3 Ad 3 Gurnard, .. mie an 60 60 —————_|_ | ——————____ 510 517 1027 18. Lybster 3 11°4 | 10°83 | 9:4 23 |10.45 | 12.45 | Cod, ars a 2 - 2 Bay, a.m. | p.m. | Hake, ad a ile ae 1 Caithness. Haddock (1) me 2 we at eG. 2) 8068 & — 308 102 410 Whiting, .. re 19 25 44 Plaice (2),.. aA 6] -. 6 Lemon Dab, a 46). 46 Com. Dab, if AE 40 40 Cat-fish, .. - 1)... 1 Gurnard, .. oe a 34 34 383 201 584 19 to| 2.55 |5 p.m.) Cod, be Se all) Wee 1 22 | p.m. Codling, .. im IPA! aS 12 Haddock (1), .. an a5 3), 5A 4 ee 0 be Ee — 316] 165 481 Turbot, .. F PAN Be 2 Lemon Dab, a 22 ti! 29 Com. Dab,.. x. 20; 200 220 Cat-fish, .. ae 2 He 2 Angler, .. me 3 on 3 Gurnard, .. te aS 23 23 878| 395 773 = 64 Part UIL.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. pine Taw! Fish Caught. Depth i Place. Date. 3 a a = No. Remarks. 2 6 | Fms. ; ED No. | thrown] otal ah peste ees 6 2 Name. taken to| Over- | “yo a Z 3 a x Market. | board. oe 1903. 20. Aber- |June 13. 8to10|} 2.30] 6.30 | Cod, il 8 1 deen Bay, a.m, | a.m. | Codling, .. 3 14 17 off Black Haddock(3), 707; +10 917 Dog. Whiting, ie 40 40 Plaice (1),.. 25 ae aa PO (2)n 363 : BF E(B) 5c 189 e By — 5i7 20 597 ? Com. Dab,.. 94 56 150 Gurnard, .. : 25 Pa) Angler, | rte 2 1384 365 1749 21. Same 3 a5 7.15 |11.15| Codling, .. 25 25 Locality. a.m. | a.m. | Haddock (3), 763| 250 1013 Whiting, 40 16 56 Brill, 5 2 30 2 Plaice (1),.. 15 ag ore a (2) sre 162 Ss if ie (Gos 330 i aS —— 507 5e 507 Com. Dab,.. 4 120 120 Gurnard, .. 20 20 Angler, 2 Z 1312 433 1745 22. Aber- a 12 to | 11.30] 3.30 | Haddock(2), 196 As deen Bay, 14 | a.m. | p.m. aA (3), 1492 Eig Ne off Slains -—1688| 109 1797 Castle. Turbot, 2 Ae 2 Brill, SC By) 60 5 Plaice (2),.. . | 60 es me i ie 100 be si — 160)... 160 Com. Dab,.. 5 : 87 87 Gurnard, .. 5 16 16 Angler, 1 1 1855 213 2068 23. Same 3 12 to | 4.15 | 7.15 | Haddock(1), Unmarketable not Locality. 15 | pm.| p.m. - (2), 303 - enumerated; as (3). 3193 oe consisted of six = (4), 630 59 basketfuls, most- ——4126 4126 ly small _had- Plaice (2),.. 87 87 docks. Com. Dab,.. 70 70 4283 4283 = 24. Same “6 12 to| 7.45 | 11.45 | Cod, 2 2 | Unmarkctable not Locality. 14 | p.m. | p.m. | Codling, .. 5 5 enumerated. Haddock (3), 993 : 4 (4), 878 ou ——1871 1871 Plaice (1),.. » (2);-- 51 oe Py 6) Kae 36 Me ss AS 20 ae — 107 107 1985 1985 Place. Date. 1903. 1. About 60 | Aug. 17. miles 8. } E. from Aber- deen, and about 30 miles E. 38. from Isle of May. 2. Same Locality. 3. Same Locality, working southwards. 4, Same Locality. 5. Same Locality. ” Temperature. o a 2| 8 Pa pa » qa|aj|a 168 | 12:8} 8:9 19°2 | 132°) 8°9 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 34& 35 & 36 34 to 36 2.30 p.m, 6.10 5.15 a.m. 9.45 a.m. Hauled. p.m. 5.30 p.m. 9.40 a.m. p.m. TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I Fish Caught. Name. Codling, .. Haddock (1), Whiting, Lemon Dab, Gurnard, .. Angler, Codling, .. Haddock (1), 2 ” (4), Whiting, .. Plaice, Lemon Dab, Gurnard, .. Cod, Codling, Coal-fish, .. Haddock (1), Lemon Dab, Com. Dab,.. Gurnard, .. Angler, .. Cod, Codling, Coal-fish, .. Haddock (1), ” (4), Whiting, .. Plaice, Lemon Dab, Gurnard, .. Codling, Ling, Ae Haddock (1), ” (2), Lemon Dab, Pr Com. Dab,.. aM Long Rough Dab, < No. o. | thrown taken to} Over- Tote Market.| board. wh 7 4 11 13 = ae S84 =e He 167 bie =H 96 i an —-360 159 519 9 62 61 5 ae 5 7 7 5 5 381 227 608 ‘ 1 1 24 Be ss 96 os SE 104 r oie 120 ae ne —344 246 590 a 26 26 2 = 2 2 . 2 Bis 14 14 348 287 635 9 5 9 11 4 15 1l 11 18 ae 50 Re 254 ots 187 es aie —509 116 625 a5 12 12 12 BG 12 4 a 4 3 Ae 3 Je 12 12 46 2 2 559 146 705 65 Remarks. Course run — 60 miles 8. 4 E. from Aberdeen, and worked south- wards to about 34 miles S.E. of Isle of May. Sea calm. Sea smooth; calm. 66 Place. 6. Same Locality. 7. Same Locality. 8. Same Locality. 9. Same Locality. Date. 1903. Aug. 18 Aug. 18- 19. Part [T1.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. 3 a () is} _ = s fo} bP) 2 ’ v 524 = ay ) 1087 . a (Os 435 if 2172 209 2381 Whiting, .. ne 140 56 196 Plaice, xs sf 13 as 13 Lemon Dab, ar 21 oe Pil Com. Dab, fe 8 8 Long Rough Dab, ud 18 18 Gurnard, .. ae 100 100 2388 406 2794 12. Same 55 15°27 12°38) 974 ys 235; |) 3:45. |) Cod; x a 1 aa 1 Calm. Sea smooth. Locality. p.m. | p.m. | Codling, .. wf 43 20 63 Ling, F z3 3 ae 3 Coal-fish, i 2 Sie 7 Haddock (1), .. {127 an a7 5) 418 iy sd PRED ee (098 s: ” (4), 460 ge! —2003 428 2431 Whiting, .... 288 46 334 Piaices “ 10 Pe 10 Lemon Dab, Be 10 a2 10 Com. Dab,. ae 6 6 Long Rough Dab, 36 20 20 Gurnard, .. 50 109 109 Angler, .. =e oe 2 2 2360 631 | 2991 j 13. Same a ce 56 a », | 4.80 | 7.15 | Codling, .. ae 36 4 40 | At end of haul, Locality. p.m. | p.m. | Haddock (1), .. | 62 a5 fe left for Granton ia 2)... (455 A. - A (8), 671 as - (4), 455 He —1643 312 1955 Whiting, .. oF 135 109 244 Plaice, .. a 12 sc 12 Lemon Dab, Ae 9 as 9 Com. Dab, ays 5 5 Long Rough Dab, vie 17 17 Gurnard, .. as 47 47 Angler, .. a 2 1 1 1835 495 2330 were ee EE } Place. Date. 1903. 14. About |Aug. 20, 50 miles E by S. from Isle of May. 15. Same |Aug. 20- Locality. 21. 16. Same Locality. 17. Same “5 Locality. | Air. Aug. 21 Part IIT.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS--TABLE I. Temperature. Surface. 34 to 35 34 Time Trawl Fish Caught. Down. z Pe eae : 2 0. rown rs 5 Name. taken to) Over- qe! a le} Market. | board. ‘ 6.15 | 10.15 | Codling, .. 18 17; 35 p-m. | p.m. | Haddock (1), 128 ats a a (Oe 522 - x on (3), 1044 + oe a (4), 428 ’ Pe ——2122) 108 2230 Whiting, 130 40 170 Plaice, 20 : 20 Lemon Dab, 31 53 31 Com. Dab,.. Gre : 9 9 Long Rough Dab, 23 23 Gurnard, a 47 47 Grey Skate, 3 3 2321 247 2568 10.35 | 2.45 | Cod, 5 a 5 p.m. | a.m. | Codling, .. 48 8 56 Haddock (1), 128 a ae m) Q) 416 : Re (3), 507 a a (4), 220 sa —1271 96 1367 Whiting, .. 60 32 92 Lemon Dab, 23 we 23 Com. Dab, : 8 8 Long Rough Dab, 15 15 Gurnard, : 52 52 Grey Skate, i 1 Angler, 2 2 1407 214 1621 8.10 | 12.20) Cod, 2 “8 2 a.m. | p.m. | Codling, 42 7 49 Coal-fish, .. 1 ais it Haddock(1), 125 ae ae op 2), 623 Re Se “a (3), 882 a ea RS (4), 215 a = —1845 209 2054 Whiting, .. 104 46 150 Plaice, 10 as 10 Lemon Dab, 20 fe 20 Com. Dab, é Zs 4 4 Long Rough Dab, U 7 Gurnard, Fi 43 43 Grey Skate, 2 2 Angler, 3 3 2024 321 2345 ies) 2.5 | Haddock (1), 20 a p.m. | p.m. *) (2), 105 ae Cane: 268 a » (4), 180 Se —-573 68 641 Whiting, . 31 31 Plaice, 10 bs 10 Lemon Dab, if ae Ul Com. Dab, : 4 4 Long Rough Dab, 7 ia Gurnard, : 23 23 590 133 123 Remarks. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 69 TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE ]. Temperature. rage e Fish Caught. Depth : : ae? Place. Date. g g ae J eae Remarks. , 3 cS) ms : = No. | thrown sé = 3 zo) = Name. taken to) Over ie 4 R Q a q Market.| board. nb 1903. 18. Same jAug. 21.) .. Se BY 34 2.30 | 6.30 | Cod, se ns 5 He 5 | Unmarketable, Locality. p.m. | p.m.} Codling, .. or 13 oe 13 amounting to 14 Hake, aca ie 1 a8 1 baskets, not Haddock (1), an |} 2keKs} Be sts counted ; mostly Be (2), ac || ALi? ate a haddocks. ” (@), - (1131 a BS (4), 448 ae 2482 iS 2482 Whiting, .. ae 217 50 217 Plaice, ss ae 28 a 28 Lemon Dab, is 42 ae 42 Cat-fish, .. os 1 es | 2789 2789 Part T11.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Place. 1. Aber- deen Bay, off Black Dog. 2. Aberdeen Bay, off Old Castle. 8. Same Locality. Temperature. que Trew! Fish Caught. Depth : Date. 3 dq in si No. 3 6 |Fms f 2 No. | thrown : a = = S 3 Name. taken to) Over- Total Zz # faa a ea Market. board. c: 1903. Oct. 16. 8 to 12} 10.50 | 2.50 | Cod, 13 be 13 a.m, | p.m. | Codling, . 118 3 121 Haddock (1), 749 as By 3 2), 232 : % “ (3), 536 ; * —1517 + 1517 Whiting, 259 5 264 Brill, BD 1 x 1 Plaice (1), .. 13 Be We (2s es ) as — 22 22 Lemon Dab, a Bs 1 Com. Dab,.. 5 23 28 Grey Skate, 2 ie 2 Gurnard, as 8 8 Angler, if 1 1938 40 1978 4 10°1 | 10°8 | 61 |9 to12} 3.20 | 7.10 | Cod, Ch a 4 p-m. | p.m. | Codling, 273 9 282 Haddock (1), |395 ae i (2), 164 i i (3), 540 5 —1099 3% 1099 Whiting, 261 14 275 Brill, SA 10 be 10 Plaice (1), .. 12 : * Fenn (D) a8 169 : oA ee WB) 13 & —194 Ese 194 Lemon ab, 12 es 12 Com. Dab,.. 28 45 73 | Starry Ray, 3 2 5 Grey Skate, 5 1 6 Gurnard, .. 5 4 4 1889 75 1°64 ” Stoll} 7.30 | 11.80} Cod, 26 an 26 p.m. | p.m. | Codling, .. 179 11 190 Haddock (1), 241 a3 0 Re (2), 254 aN atl eaBls 170 re —-665 Bo 665 Whiting, 96 16 112 Brill, 8 fe 8 Plaice (1), 10 ce 3B Oe 171 A ee | | ey ENB) ies 14 we a —195 5h 195 Lemon Dab, 14 ae 14 Com. Dab,.. 24 37 61 Gurnard, .. ni 5 5 Thornback, 4 rae 4 Grey Skate, 5 1 6 Angler, 7 iL 1 1216 71 1287 Remarks. Wind S.W., strong breeze; sea rough. Place. 1903. Oct. 17. 4. Same Locality. Towed up to Cruden Scars. 5. Same Locality. Shot at Cruden ° Skerries and towed to- wards Aber- deen. 6. Moray Firth ; Burghead Bay. 7. Same Locality. Date. ” Oct. 19. TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. of the Mishery Board for Scotland. Temperature. % a oO = = = =} te) < n aa) 10 to 15 8 to 12 Time Trawl Fish Caught. Remarks. Down. rd No. a8 3 No. thrown] Total ° 3 Name. taken to] Over- No. a q Market] board. 12.50] 4.5 | Cod, 9 9 a.m. | a.m.} Codling, .. 382 5 387 Haddock (1), 237 a 4, (2), 156 ; ” (8), 397 . —790 ac 790 Whiting, 214 14 228 Turbot, 3 : 3 Brill, ws 4 : 4 Plaice (1), .. 12 ; ES <6 2) eye 181 A x iS (hoe 11 : oA ——204 " 204 Lemon Dab, 3 . 3 Com. Dab, .. 14 21 35 Gurnard, .. Ae 4 4 Thornback, 4 2 6 Grey Skate, 4 1 5 Starry Ray, 2 4 6 Angler, 1 ‘ 1 1634 51 1685 4,20 | 5.20 | Codlinge, .. 14 5 19 a.m. | a.m. | Haddock (1), 20 , = (2), 46 2 — 66 4 70 Whiting, .. 32 19 51 Plaice (1), .. ee oe 28 np 2) vss 42 ce ee | —- 42 ae 42 Com. Dab,.. 12 14 26 166 42 208 1.30 | 5.30 | Codling, .. 12 12 p.m. | p.m. | Haddock (1), 35 a6 s (2), 190 Ee - (3), 6214 ie af 6439 30 6469 Whiting, 60 150 210 Halibut, 1 BS 1 Brill, 2 AS 2 Plaice (1), .. 2 ses sie ws | (2); se 178 a ee rm 6)5 36 277 He ie Ce 165 he Ss —622 56 678 Witch, 30 Ke 3 Com. Dab,.. 20 794 814 Gurnard, 96 60 156 Thornback, 4 a 4 Angler, a0 6 6 7286 1096 8382 6.15 | 10.15 | Cod, 1 1 p-m. | p.m. | Codling, .. 9 9 Haddock (1), 1 F ” (2), 180 5 (3), 1282 a es 1463 38 1401 Whiting, 255 102 357 Turbot 1 A 1 Brill, 3 ms Plaice (1), .. 4 i ne ge 2 ee 314 a ats Ba tA(3) 134 ; ae sy e 194 E S ae — 646 20 | 666 Witch, 2 a Z Com. Dab, 120 653 773 Gurnard, 80 31 111 Thornback, 1 oe 1 Angler, : 21 21 2581 865 3446 Small-meshed net. Weather ealm. Catch included 31} baskets of haddocks, mostly small, and six of plaice. 72 Place. 8. Same Locality. 9. Same Locality. 10. Same Locality. Part I1T.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Fish Caught. Temperature. pune awl Depth i Date. 3 a in < 3 6 |Fms 4 o Bile Bala 2/a|aA a | © 1903. Oct 19- | 11:2 | 103} 10 |8to12) 10°45 | 2.45 20. p-m. | am, Oct. 20.) 10°8 | 12°33] 10 |8to13) 3.35 | 7.35 a.m. | a.m. é 8 to12} 9.0 | 10.0 a.m. | a.m. Name. Cod, Codling, .. Haddock (1), 2 Whiting, Lemon Dab, Witch, Com. Dab, Gurnard, .. Thornback, Angler, Codling, .. Haddock (1), ” (2) » (3), Whiting, .. Turbot, Plaice (1), .. 2 . Witch, Com. Dab,.. Gurnard, .. Thornback, Angler, Hake, Codling, Haddock (1), »” (2), ”» (3), Whiting, Plaice (1), .. D) ” (2), O06 Gurnard, .. Thornback, Angler, x No. o. | thrown taken to} Over- Jotal Market.| board. se 2 2 5 5 16 ss 12 on 352 <“é 182 ae Hf —562 20 582 290 94 384 i ae aes 89 ae < 214 83 So 324 i. a — 634 32 666 2 a0 2 18 ba 18 ae 786 786 80 18 98 3 ar 3 : 10 10 1596 960 2556 11 : ial 8 ft ah: 112 2 ae 1956 on <3 ——-2076 43 2119 250 103 353 1 25 if 5 ee oe 78 Rf. xe 120 hs ~ 288 Re a —491 se 491 4 bf 4 5 oe 5 78 860 938 87 21 108 2 ae 2 5 5 3005 1032 4037 1 - 1 iy 3 15 2 ae aH 27 a 184 Ss a ——213 26 239 10 46 56 4 He on 18 zis as 50 ee Be 157 bs AF ——229 fe 229 os 307 307 8} ate 13 36 14 50 al ie 1 ie 1 1 515 397 912 Remarks Small-meshed net. Place. 11. Dornoch | Oct. 20. Firth, off Dunrobin and Golspie. 12. Same Locality. 13. Same Locality. 14. Same Locality. Date. 1903. ” Oct. 21. | Air. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. 73 Temperature. Time Trawl Down. Surface. Bottom. | Shot. Hauled. 2.45 p.m. 4.45 p.m. 5.10 | 7.10 p.m. | p.m. 7.45 p-m. 11.45 p.m. 12.20} 3.20 a.m. | a.m. Name. Cod, Codling, Coal-fish, .. Haddock (1), ” (2), ” (3), Whiting, .. Brill, es Plaice (1), .. ” (2), Co » (8), .. Lemon Dab, Com. Dab,.. Cat-fish, Gurnard, .. Cod, Codling, .. Haddock (1), 2 ” (2), Whiting, .. Plaice (1), .. » (8), .. Lemon Dab, Com. Dab,.. Gurnard, .. Thornback, Angler, Codling, .. Haddock (1), (2 ” Whiting, Brill, ae Plaice (1), .. ” ©) On Lemon Dah, Com. Dab, Gurnard, .. Thornback, Codling, .. Haddock (1), ” (2), Whiting, Plaice (1), .. ” (2), oi Lemon Dab, Com. Dab,.. Gurnard, Thornback, Fish Caught. * No. o. jthrown taken to} Over- re Market. | board. ‘ 42 : 42 26 7 33 aie 2 2 51 ; 83 .. [444 si ate —578 14 592 x 27 27 2 in 2 10 ; 5 7 — 22 22 3 3 ae 61 61 1 1 3 5 8 677 116 793 3 3 12 12 177 ia 43 ae 425 oe —645 7 652 4 12 16 5 A ae 39 ae ae 54 eh or —- 98 2 100 8 ae 8 HA 43 43 5p 4 4 1 6 i : 3 3 771 71 842 26 3 29 78 ie a 24 fr Ds —102 2 104 4 6 10 2 Ry 2 21 ie F 36 His 57 Ne 57 4 aye 4 ae 60 60 8 8 2 2 197 79 276 10 9 19 2 ‘ ae 10 és —— 1Y 4 16 Ne 3 3 5 ee 20 Es a O5 6 31 12 ae 12 s 24 24 8 11 19 4 oe 4 71 57 128 Remarks, Weather fine ; light 8. W. wind. Weather fine split. net 74 Part IIL.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. ue Lal Fish Caught. Depth : Place. Date. 3 a in = No. Remarks. 3 On| ims: 0a 2 No. | thrown x * 2 S 5 Name. taken to] Over- a PD iaa) wal fas Market.| board. 1903. 15. Same | Oct. 21.| 12°0 | 10°71 | 10°6 |8to14} 3.50 | 7.50 | Cod, Se as 3 Locality. a.m. | a.m. | Codling, .. “fs 8 Haddock (1), Bseitiral D 2), spe | ag) oH (8), .. [637 —668 2 Whiting, .. O6 15 25 Plaice (1), .. aap aks AA » (2), .. 24 » (3), .. aye Led ann (4) .. | 25 — 82 Lemon Dab, sé 2 ; Com. Dab, oe ae 233 Witch, ae 2 oe Gurnard, .. fs 7 18 Conger, 5 35 1 A Thornback, oe 2 5. Angler, E 30 50 2 Piked Dog-fish, 2 Sprat, : F 3 790 285 16. Same op a = > | LOito 8 12 Cod, on ae 1 ‘i Locality. 15 | a.m. | p.m.| Codling, .. yes 13 5 Haddock (1), .. | 149 5 Pr (2), Bo | a8} ” (3), bh bo 1574 ——1846 6 Whiting, .. sie 9 23 Plaice (1), .. a. |) 4 ts 3 (2), .. >. 40 phy SDs) 1- 91 ” (4), +7 180 —-325 20 Lemon Dab, 25 3 oe Com. Dab, ae 30 181 Gurnard, .. Bo 8 of Piked Dog-fish, .. 2 Angler, .. es 4A 1 Thornback, ie 4 “fe Sprat, as de 50 15 2239 247 17. Same . -- | .. | .. [8 to 12/1215) 1.15 | Cod, Shs 1 Net split. Locality. p-m.| p.m. | Codling, .. of 9 Bs Whiting, .. ae ee 2 Plaice (8), .. Se ee» eel tt Com. Dab, ot ay 6 Sprat, 56 Sc = 8 il 16 18. Same Hy Ns Be -. {8to13) 4.50 | 8.50 | Cod, ps ot 5 a3 Locality. p-m. | p.m. | Codling, .. it 30 12 Haddock (1), Bo | Bs} se st (2), +. || 856 nS (8)3 ee oe 1248 1907 19 Whiting, .. ae be 36 | Plaice (1), .. Soaked, Bs ssive (C2) ae vn Oo » (8), - 46 » (4), . 15 112 21 H Lemon Dab, 55 2 ate Com. Dab, ae 25 43 Gurnard, .. a ae 10 Angler, =: 55 ie i 2031 142 2223 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 75 TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. apne Trawl Fish Caught. own. Depth ae Place. Date. g g in = No. Remarks, 3 S |Fms.| |; 2 No. thrown Total a = = s S Name. taken to} Over- N = | 1.80 | 5.80 | Codling, .. 30 Sc 9 9 Locality. a.m. |am.| Haddock(1), .. | 73 . . oe (2), Bet |let! 6 ms (3), .. (645 ; —799 i 806 Whiting, .. oc 50 12 12 Plaice (1), .. sid 4 Ss als DOR ad ton tee 5 GIS Ae .. {120 (isa co [FAO 5 ind —-372 18 390 Com. Dab, 5 a6 347 347 Gurnard, .. as 12 23 35 Thornback, ne 2 ae 2 1185 416 1601 21. Same a 9.2 | 9°7 | 974 |8to13] 5.45 | 6.45 | Codling, .. ae 4 1 5 | Small -meshed net Locality. a.m. | a.m. | Haddock (1), Ee ieL0 ie J used, ” 2 ’? ee 9 oa oe is (3), .. | 69 cr — 88 4 92 Whiting, .. ae 1 40 41 Brill, ‘e Be 1 a 1 Plaice (1), .. is 3 Be nc Vea tcae mer iAee at PNB ae 71 i men a)ae 253 3 —-348 15 363 Com. Dab,.. aa 23 371 394 Gurnard, .. aA 5 25 30 Thornback, eit 1 1 Piked Dog-fish, Bc 1 1 Sting Ray, so 56 1 1 Little Sole, as Ae 1 1 Sprat, a ae 4 4 Armed Bullhead, 1 1 471 464 935 22. Off 3 wa we Hh 23 1 2 Codling, .. aye 6 4 4 Lybster. p.m. | p.m. | Haddock (1), se (BI 5 a a5 2), .. {190 “4 (3), ... (358 : ie —-900 4 904 Whiting, .. aD 37 14 51 Plaice (1), .. Be 4 in oe x Oyen on | 20 a a —- 14 be 14 Lemon Dab, a 5 = 5 Com. Dab... Ae ne 30 30 956 52 1008 a Part ITI —Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. 76 Temperature. Place. Date. a g (3) 3 ° es >) S 2=/a/8 1903. 23. Same | Oct. 2%. Locality. | 24. Same on Locality. 25. Same | Oct. 22 Locality. & 23 26. Same | Oct. 23. Locality. 27. Smith op Bank. Time Trawl . Down. Fish Caught. OS No. . 2 No. | thrown Total 6 3 Naine. taken to] Over- | “\5 a es] Market. | board. 3 2.30 | 4.30 | Codling, .. ae 13 13 p.m. | p.m. | Haddock (1), 731 aa ae it (2), 446 x A 5 (3), 1277 fe 55 2454 9 2463 Whiting, 200 24 224 Plaice (8), .. 11 A 11 Lemon Dab, 5 aA 5 Com. Dab,.. ac 20 20 Gurnard, .. 4 5 4 2674 66 2740 4.50 | 7.50 | Codling, .. 12 7 19 p-m. | p.m. | Haddock (1), 449 Be 3 (2), 471 ae . (3), 1075 ae i ——1995 13 2008 Whiting, 628 36 664 Plaice (1), .. 3 as is a (Ob as 23 ‘ = — 26 3 26 Lemon Dab, 4 oe 4 Com. Dab,.. : 86 86 Gurnard, .. 3 3 2665 145 2810 8.15 | 12.15 | Cod, 18 oe 18 p.m. | a.m. | Codling, .. 19 4 23 Haddock (1), 286 Pr Bc 5 (2), 210 ie de 0 (3), 836 re a: —1332 14 1346 Whiting, as 21 21 Plaice (2), 9 23 9 Lemon Dab, 12 es 12 Com. Dab, 00 66 66 Gurnard, .. 13 8 21 Angler, on 1 1 1403 114 1517 12.30 | 3.35 | Cod, i 3 7 a.m. | a.m. | Codling, .. 14 : 14 Haddock (1), 260 : ae “f (2), 213 3 ae i. (3), 860 2 a0 —1333 9 1342 Whiting, 450 26 476 Plaice (2), .. 22 ee 22 Com. Dab,.. Ue 39 39 Gurnard, .. 10 5 15 Thornback, 2 F 2 1838 79 1917 6.15 | 7.15 | Codling, .. 5 1 6 a.m. | a.m. | Haddock (1), 28 F Ae » (2), 6 Sire Re - (8), 231 F a3 — 265 37 302 Whiting, .. 46 204 250 Plaice (1), .. 3 Ef a0 3 RO) A 28 ne oe — 31 os 31 Com. Dab, ie 3 674 677 Long Rough Dab, ac 3 3 Lemon Dab, ite © 14 14 Armed Bullhead, 2 2 Gurnard, .. 06 15 15 350 950 1300 Remarks, 20 baskets of had- docks. Place. 28. Same Locality. 29. Off Kinnaird Head at “ Witch Ground.” Date. 1903. Oct. 23. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLFE I, Temperature. Depth 3 Fi in SI S | Fms. = 4 = = 5 xe) < mM jaa} 22 50 Time Trawl Fish Caught. Down. = | a No. : 2 0. thrown 8 tes Name. taken to) Over- be 7] jaa | Market.| board. Os 8.10 | 11.50 | Cod, 107 107 a.m. | a.m. | Codling, 27 27 Ling, Pe 1 1 fladdock (1), 30 ; iS 2), 110 2 oA (3), 646 be —786 10 796 Whiting, 10 31 41 Plaice (2), .. 34 Ae 34 Lemon Dab, 15 te 15 Com. Dab,.. , 206 206 Gurnard 8 8 Angler, 1 1 980 256 1236 1.50 | 2.50 | Hake, Ae 6 - 6 p.m. | p.m. | Haddock (1), 21 23 a5 ” (2), ge oN » (3), 400 de ts —421 18 439 Whiting, te 46 46 Plaice, 3 AG 3 Com. Dab,.. 406 406 Gurnard, .. 56 12 12 Angler, ~ 1 1 430 483 913 Small-meshed net. 78 Place. 1. Aberdeen Bay; _ be- tween Black Dog and Newburgh. 2. Same Locality. 3. Same Locality. 4. Same Locality. Date. ” Oct. 80 & 31 Part I1L.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. me: o ai/al|aAa 10°0 | 104 | 10 6 toll 5 to 11 ena Fish Caught. 3 & ae . a o. | thrown 6 eI Name. taken to| Over- pote 5 sa Market.| board. © 9.55 | 12.15 | Cod, 29 7 29 am. | p.m. | Codling, .. 43 re 43 Haddock (1), 181 ia a A 2), 195 ws o ” (3), 16 3 x6 —-— 392 7 399 Whiting, 195) 148 338 Brill, a 1 He 1 Plaice (3), .. 6 1 7 Com. Dab,. . a 8 7 15 Black Sole, ate 1 A 1 Long Rough Dab, 2 2 675; 160 835 12.45 | 5.20 | Cod, L069) 106 p.m. | p.m. | Codling, 145 6 151 Coal-fish, .. 4 De 4 Haddock (1), 120 i on 53 2s 179 Ne ae Ae (3), 10 ae a — 309 11 320 Whiting, 54} 107 161 Plaice (2),.. 198 Be ne S34) (Hoe 110 i s: — 308) .. 308 Lemon Dab, 1 = 1 Com. Dab,.. 8 8 Flounder, .. 3 a 3 Thornback, 2 2 Starry Ray, 2 2 930} 136 1066 5.55 | 10.10 | Cod, 25 He 25 p.m. | p.m. | Codling, : 85 9 94 Haddock (1), 311 5 fe » (2), 588 es (3), 132 Ls 6 ——1031) 130 1161 Whiting, 188) 640 828 Plaice (1),.. 37 Le an aa) ble)srere 28 ee ep (Ghar 49 a —- 114 9 123 Com. Dab, 25 13 38 Gurnard, 8 8 Thornback, 1 ae 1 Starry Ray, 30 21 21 1469} 830 2299 10.45 |3 a.m.| Cod, 37 37 p.m. Codling, 49 a 56 Haddock (1), 475 5 ae o (2), 303 ‘ mc Vane (3)s 353 a * ——1131 14 1145 Whiting, 272 211 483 Black Sole, 1 as 1 Plaice (1),.. ET (Oyen 52 ‘ ; 5a ne) sets 27 : ¥e — 79 : 79 Lemon Dab, 2 ne 2 Com. Dab,.. ai 5 12 Flounder, .. 2 Ai 2 Gurnard, .. 1 1 Starry Ray, 24 24 1580 262 1842 Remarks. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. "9 TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. Time Trawl Fish Caught. Depth Down: Place. Date. 3 E in = No. Remarks. o | Fms. ; & No. | thrown a = c= rs = Name. taken to} Over- Be | = 8 3 td Market.| board. : 5. Aberdeen] Oct. 31] 9:6 | 10-2 | 10°6 |8to19). 7.10 | 810 | God, eae oe ie a 5 | Small-meshed net, Bay ; off a.m.-| a.m. | Codling, .. A 10 9 19 Collieston. Haddock, .. as 773| = 157 930 Whiting, .. te 169 75 244 Plaice, ye te 27 ate 27 Lemon Dab, eS 1 oe 1 Com. Dab,.. ‘ 3 3 Long Rough Dab, 2 2 Gurnard, .. =e 6 6 Grey Skate, if 1 80 Part 117.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. pune Le wh Fish Caught. Depth Place. Date. 3 g a 3 ft FEN: a ) ms. : = 0. rown “s — 8 zs) 5 Name. taken to| Over: otal a a roa] zl ran Market.| board. wt 1. Aberdeen| Nov. 6.| 9:2 | 10°0 | 9°8 |8to10 2.10 | 5.10 | Cod, 1 j 1 Bay ; off p-m.| p.m.| Codling, .. 27 é 27 Black Dog to Haddock (1), 135 A ote Collieston. ” (2), 69 : B an (3), 334 : G0 a (4), 439 i bn — 977 36 1013 Whiting, 303; 18 321 Plaice, : 2 a 2 Com. Dab, . ; 4 1 5 Long Rough Dab, 2 2 Gurnard, 3 3 Thornback Ray, .. u 1 Herring, a0 6 6 Sprat, 2 2 1314 69 1383 2. Same “f 53 to| 6.25 | 8.25 |-Codling, a 2 2 Locality. 12 | p.m.| p.m. | Haddock (1), 1 a ” (2), 6 On ” (4), 6 oa — 13 2 15 Whiting, 24 6 30 Plaice, 1 ar 1 Com. Dab,. 1 a 1 Long Rough Dab, 1 1 Gurnard, 4 2 2 Grey Skate, 3 3 Starry Ray, 15 15 Herring, 1 1 39 32 71 3. Same | Noy. 6 54 to] 9.15 | 1.20} Cod, _ 1 1 Locality. & 7. 12 | p.m.| a.m. | Codling, .. 22 3 25 Haddock (1), 126 2 on 2), 75 ae 50 (3), 118 bh —— 319 329 Whiting, 96, 22 118 Plaice (1),.. 1 Bis se 00 2) as 53 an a0 1p, (5 aa 67 <5 ae — 121 1 122 Com. Dab,.. 7 5 12 Long Rough Dab, 3 3 Starry Ray, 2 2 566 46 612 4, Aberdeen 5 41 to| 2.55 | 5.25 | Cod, 1 1 Bay ; off 12 | a.m.]a.m.| Codling, .. 28 8 26 Newburgh. Haddock (1), 13 A 5 is (2), 14 4 i. on (3), 81 46 qa — 108 20 128 Whiting, (al BY 104 Brill, . 2 A 2 Placer). 3 (2) 39 36 op (Bh ab 215 si —- 254 254 Com. Dab,.. ‘ 15 15 Long Rough Dab, 5 5 Gurnard, ae 19 19 475 89 564 Remarks. Weather fine ; sea smooth; gentle westerly wind. Nothing apparent to account for very small catch. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 81 TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. ane Trawl Fish Caught. own. Depth — Place. Date. oI 3g in | No. Remarks. s Ss |Fms.| 4; | No. | thrown | mot a = = E 3 Name. taken to} Over- N a na ioe) ~m q Market.| board. a: 5. Moray | Nov.9.| .. ye .. |54t09)1p.m.| 4-10 | Cod, ae oF wal Se 11 |Wind west; Firth ; Burg- a.m. | Codling, .. : 1 7 8 squally, rain. head Bay. Haddock (1), BE 1 ae ae CMTS yee il aty ¥ ” (3), aie Pa snl ays 494 ie 2 —- 506] 187 693 Whiting, .. dc 10 23 33 Brill, ae ae to] Pa 9 Plaice (1),.. e: 21 ae Dn(2) os) eel 00 5) (Bh 4c .. | 660 ar Sp —— 790 8 798 Com. Dab,.. fe 34 8 42 Gurnard, .. on oo 84 84 Thornback, s 4 Sh 4 1865} 317 1682 6. Same f re a .. | 53 to] 4.30 | 8.45 | Cod, a ws 2 ae 2 Locality. 13 | p.m.| p.m.| Codling, .. a 33 10 43 and Haddock (1), eS 5 ot =a 20 rr (2), anil ee AS (3), ad [ee a or) (4), 711 me 0 —- 827; 203 | 1,030 Whiting, .. AG 26 31 57 Turbot, Sc 1 1 Brill, : 10 10 Black Sole, a i 1 Plaice (1),.. Me 16 5 (Bhan oe |) eal ree (S)ice se ||) re bys ae — 908 21 929 Com. Dab,.. Be 100} 196 296 Witch, 213 ae G| eee 6 Gurnard, .. ats aa 24 24 Thornback, Sr 12 aa 12 Angler, .. ae 4 6 10 1930 491 2421 7. Same |Noy. 10.) .. : .. |4% to |3a.m.|7 a m.| Cod, a6 ks Sli Ae 3 Locality. 10 Codling, .. ae 32 11 43 Haddock (2), aia ” (3), oe Fs (4), 205 25 x — 2 50 75 Whiting, .. oe 54 34 34 | Brill, =f ne 31 3 Turbot, .. by 5 ae 5 Plaice (1), .. AE 27 Ss a iC2 nt ee pen | L7G | oy (EIS oe bo ltetiee = is | —1100 58 1158 | Lemon Dab, a 9 = 9 | Com. Dab,.. Me 64, 240 304 Gurnard, .. ae a 102 102 Thornback Ray, .. 2 9 11 Angler, .. ats 2 2 4 1273] 506 1779 8. Same : 78 | 98 | 10 |5t010)8a.m.| 10.35 | Cod, A Se Sle aes 3 | W.S W. strong Locality. a.m. | Codling, .. a ae "i 7 breeze; showery. Haddock, .. ae id 25 25 Whiting, .. as ss 11 i Brill, a we 7 ue 7 Plaice (1), .. a 13 Le ts a) ap wer LBD) is ae ACD) oe .. | 526 F ae — 678 25 703 Com. Dab,.. =a 40) 140 180 Gurnard, .. Be a 186 186 Thornback Ray, .. 5 34 5 Angler, .. 56 56 4 4 733 398 1131 Part ITI.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. 82 Temperature. Place. Date. Py q 8 a Soilae a TE leas mn AGI Hac 319 ae - ape as 214 Na ae — 672 169 841 Lemon Dab, 3 1 + Com. Dab, 12 63 75 | Megrim, 5 1 PP, 1 | Gurnard, .. ds 50 50 Thornback Ray. .. 4 4 Sandy Ray, 1 1 Angler, 2 2 1016 339 1255 13. Same * 6 to 10} 11.40 | 3.20 | Codling, .. 5 4 9 Locality. a.m | p.m. | Haddock (1), 3 E 5 ee): 3 a < — 6 13 19 Plaice (1), .. 7 x Ss nae (2) 331 - ay (he 795 Bp av. Bes 784 th oad ye 1917 184 2101 Com. Dab, 20 35 55 Gurnard, 16 16 Thornback, 2 4 6 Angler, 3 3 1950 259 2209 14. Same | Nov. 13 6 toll) 5.15 | 10.15} Codling, .. 1 1 2 | Wind §S.;_ fresh Locality. a.m. | a.m, Bade Bs OE . breeze ; squally. : 2), ¢ : 3 a AO): 197 ; - a (4). 169 5 xe — 581 53 634 Brill. a U7 |e 17 Plaice (1), .. 3 ere fs Rat C) aioe 331 le res Be (3): Di eels th fy (Nee 756 2 + 1661 320 1981 Com. Dab, 71, 300 371 Lemon Dab, (od 6 Gurnard. 20 20 Angler, | 2 2 2337, 696 | 3033 t 84 Part [17 —Twenty-second Annual Report. TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. Temperature. Tene el Fish Caught. Depth : Place. Date. g a in 3d No. Remarks. g 6 | Fms x No. | thrown e = = i) 2 Name. taken to| Over- Total a RD faa) et Ed Market.| board. 3 15. Burg- |Nov. 13.] .. A .. |5t010] 1.25 | 6.25 | Cod, m fe Ale 4 | Wind S.; fresh head Bay. p.m. | p.m. | Codling. .. le 33 6 39 breeze. Haddock (1), fe 5 te ” (2), 26 . » (3), 3 : ei (4): 131 - i —— 187 46 233 Brill, aia a 36|\amee 36 Plaice (1), ie 10 es Ye pa(2) 5 316 ae 5 (dk 601 Bp op 412 ie so ——1339} 215 1554 Lemon Dab, aye 3 as 3 Com. Dab. is 40) 156 196 Thornback Ray, .. 2 bee 2 Gurnard, .. Ee Ss 150 150 Angler, .. ae ae 3 3 1644) 576 2220 16. Same |Nov.13] .. fe x », | 7.10 | 12.10} Cod, ‘ as 3 3 Locality. & 14. p-m. | a.m. | Codling, .. ae 24 25 49 Haddock (1). ws 3 50 53 Whiting, : 50 7 7 Turbot, . = 5 xs 5 Brill, ats Be £3 |e 43 Plaice (1), .. a6 22 ts 5 Pa (2) bide a oe at a) 8 | 11.30] Cod, ae ae 23 ee 23 | Net split. Locality. p-m. | p.m. | Codling, .. a 8 8 Haddock (1), < 1 ” (2), a 4 a 5 Whiting, .. os = 2 2 Plaice (2), .. Bea | Wee: oe id py (Rese Somes ne OR ae Be) be oO ney) 23 Com. Dab, Be es 1 il Starry Ray, By 46 ae 46 105 3 108 3. Same | Dec. 24. is ae 59 2340)" 9 4 Cod, ts as 26 bs 26 | Net again split. Locality. a.m. | a.m. | Codling, .. ee if oe 1 Haddock (1), oe 8 ae 8 Plaice (2), .. Ps 3 ea a There were none op (BE oe ae 8 es Be unmarketable. — ll 11 Starry Ray, bs 24 se 24 60 ie 60 4, Moray | Dec. 25.) .. ey -. |8to11) 1.15 | 6.20 | Cod, : = 4 a 4 | Wind S.W ; light Firth ; p-m.| p.m.| Codling, .. = 9 9 1s | breeze. Burghead Haddock (1), .. | 3 ie Bay. ” (3), ee 120 S58. —-123 604 Whiting, .. oe 76 120 Brill, ats : 2 ; Plaice (1), .. a 2 » (2), .. .. | » (8),.. .. | 64 —139 Com. Dab, ig es: 52 Long Rough Dab, 40 7 Gurnard, .. Bc Bs 4 353 796 1149 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE I. 87 Place. Date. .: 1903. 5. Moray | Dec, 25. Firth ; Burghead Bay. 6. Off Tarbetness. Dec. 26. 7. Dornoch 3 Firth. 8. Off Dec. 27. Lybster. Ternperature. 2 g = 8 x I 3 2/ala | 74 9 9°2 6:2 | 75 | 83 Time Trawl Down. Depth in a] Fims ee x 3 & 3 nm et 6.45 | 11.55 p-m. | p.m. 16 to| 9.30 | 11.15 25 | a.m. | a.m. 7toll| 4.40 | 8.40 p-m. | p.m. 18 to} 12.45] 5 22 | p.m. | p.m. Fish Caught. * Hele Remarks. 0. rown Name. taken to} Over- Tous! Market.| board. o Cod, 8 as 8 | Weather foggy. Codling, .. - 17 17 Haddock (1), 3 am Be aaa)! 23 = “a (3) 346 5 c a ae —372 2086 2458 Whiting, 120 108 228 Turbot, 2 Be 2 Brill, Pe 19 ah 19 Plaice (1), .. 7 ; ate onl Ohare 134 : Be yy (Cen 86 wa we —-227 14 241 Lemon Dab, 1 7 ul Com. Dab,.. 25 39 74 Gurnard, .. Aid 7 7 784 2271 3055 Codling, .. 13 4 17 | Thick fog. Net Haddock (1), 129 Le i split. Sm)! 36 - ie S (8), 150 a ro —315 23 338 Coal-fish, .. 5 ae 5 Whiting, 27 15 42 Brill, ws 1 ” 10 | From Iceland. 12 Extra L. 90 Part I1.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE II. MEDIUM HADDOCKS. Length—Cm. | Weight. ‘ee Remarks. Range. | Average. | In Bulk. | Separately. | Lbs. Oz. | Lbs. Oz. 186 30°3-37 BRI Ane ie 180 31 =38 SBS ie 118 114 | Also 1 codling 36°9. 180 28 ‘8-41 °3 34°5 121 4 DU gs 175 28 6-39°5 34°5 119 8 118 8 209 30°9-38'1 34°1 OSs 126 10 209 31°3-37°6 34:0 126 12 12 se: 159 31°6-40°6 118 «4 233 29 °8-35'1 te 120 12 221 29°6-37°1 33:1 118 «8 Wily? 13 223 B10) S8ijay 34°3 124 6 122 14 | Also 1 whiting 28:0 cm., 4 oz. 185 32°6-38'5 TsO = 179 30°3-40°3 126 8 180 28'9-44°9 129 4 169 301-40 121 10 190 26°7-40°6 PAL a 184. 295-382 126 8 176 32° —39°4 14S 173 29 -8-39°7 1245 a5 168 30°4—41 1207 207 31:0-38°5 124 12 195 28 -39°4 IPR} 158 27 ‘8-532 36°4 L232 12139 151 32°2-48°5 1ZZeIS of 226 27°3-40°6 32°6 128 11 167 26°8-38° 108 4 192 28°4—40°6 126ee 9 230 30°2-39°6 19a 181 31°4—41°3 12o 212 29°5-37°5 PAL ibe 209 26:9-40°1 4S 222 29°6-43:°9 126 9 189 2553-39" 12 3tG 177 28°7-40°2 129F > 3 182 276-38 °9 AS) Ne! 148 32°4-48°4 124 19 No. of Fish. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 9] TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE II, SMALL HADDOCKS. Length—Cm. Range. bo WS Rae bo bo t bo bo i aH oR D> LO bo bo "Oo Oo~I bo bo =O ORG SCG Ba Perr e bo bo bo me OOO Tees. © 0 wwe www oO RES Roe Lonoro porwr Tu) Bo — Oo ADA GWT ~WWH Ryn WAG ppp nnn THE Ot ob P Bro Sand We Nooo] He nwnw Oem D~I10 bo =I Ne (Jt) Weight. Remarks. Average. | In Bulk. | Separately. Lbs. Oz. | Lbs. Oz. 103. - Also 5 whitings and 6 codlings. 30°3 110 13 1054 ae i 4: * 31:0 120. - 120 2 | Also 1 whiting 30:1 and 5 oz. 119 +6 112 15 32°5 114 15 aa B95) IG: +16 4 31°6 122s 122 4 31°9 128 12 126 12 S31 134 — ie he PAL Be 39°2 114 8 pile Lies 30°4 106 12 30° Wii no 30° 103) 12 30°3 108 +5 29°9 Wish ts bs 103 12 30 101 10 Also 2 whitings 41°1 and 46°3 cm. LOS 12 ae 110 4 109 «8 Ns; 2 Hee 30°2 108 8 107 12 29 °4. PB} 122 aes i, 104 12 ae 108 2 31.5 102° 15 a hee 30°7 127 4 127 314 109 12 Also 1 whiting 43°5 cm. 32°5 TGy | oe iis} & LO) 4: LOZ bes Hike = OSS 7 106 14 105 104 10 107, == 92 Part ITI.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE II. CODLING. Length—Cm. Weight. ag of Remarks. Fish. Range. Average. | In Bulk. | Separately. Lbs. Oz. | Lbs. Oz. 39 38 :2-66°8 56°6 114 154 | Also 1 cat-fish, 2 lbs. Sk OZ. 85 36°1-60°5 453 149 9 148 10 51 30°4-73 49°6 17 6 Ey G 47 30°3-69°6 48°] 124 13 118 14 | Alsolling, 73°6cm., 5 lbs. 2 oz. 77 29°5-71°9 133 - Also 1 ling, 53 cm., and 1 whiting. 30 34 -77°5 1255 a= 35 41°5-74°9 156 «4 492 28 -68°8 125 6 39 412-73 128 9 36 38 -74 ABO 132 13 ; Also 1 ling, 58 cm. 70 28:5-66'5 aN Wey 5) sats 44 30°3-76 51-2, 17/110) 125 9 | Also 1 ling, 1 Ib. 12 oz. 34 36 7bel 122 2 74 29 -70°4 Wb = 40 28 5-72 1B = 7 34:9-71°'8 131 14 26 50°4-78'3 125 a8 68 VA. So et het) 13%) 51 Sirs 50°4 136 12 135 8 68 31:2-65°1 43°5 132 12) T3laeLO 53 34°4-71°9 50°6 139 a= 138 2 58 33°2-80°8 45:7 13 = 134 8 35 aio 7/111 54:0 125 4 121 1 Also | ling, 60°6= 2 Ibs. 8 oz. 40 34°8-71°6 51:5 128 9 26 42°4-70°4 590 116 — | Ungutted. 56 28 °3-62°6 39°6 iB) 9 99 ee ——— of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 93 TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE II. WHITING. Length—Cm. Weight. Range. Average. | In Bulk. | Separately. Lbs. Oz, | Lbs. Oz. 155 30°3-53°5 38° 125722 180 28°1-45°5 35°9 131 3 130 11 157 30 -52°4 128 12 192 28 °6-46°3 129 4 216 24°2-48°1 34°3 91 5 91 5 260 Pl mt wt a LOST 218 222-46 '7 94 6 183 273-43 33°2 117 4 113. 10 123 322-44 °2 36°6 106 - 97 12 183 27°9-34°7 31:0 Sir 7 86 5 138 | 29-2-45 349 | 103 - | 101 9 85 31°9-46°2 37'2 90 9 86 10 225 27 °3-40°2 321 LISh 5 116 12 Remarks. Also 1 haddock, 1 lb. 10 oz. Also 1 haddock, 34:0 =6 oz. Also 1 haddock, 32:0 and 1 codling, 43:2. Also 2 haddocks, 31°8, 28°8, and 1 codling, 38°3. Line, ungutted. Do. do, Do. do. Do. do. Do. do. Also 4 haddocks 25°5 —27:2—=1 lb. 4 oz. 94 Part ITT.—Twenty-sccond Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE II. SMALL WHITING. Length—Cm. Weight. eet Remarks. Range. Average. | In Bulk. | Separately. Lbs. Oz. | Lbs. Oz. 279 24°3-33°5 29'5 106 5 103 13 | Round, ungutted. Also 3 haddocks —= 007. 351 20°6-32°6 26°4. 97 13 96055 Line, gutted. 415 20:8-33°9 bad ioe) 4 ree Also 1 haddock 21:0 cm. 274 24°7-33°7 28°5 Ue 90 2 | Line, gutted. 257 23°1-36°5 27°3 91 14 89 14 | Line, ungutted. LARGE PLAICE. Length—Cm. Weight. nee f Remarks. Range. Average. | In Bulk. | Separately. Lbs. Oz. | Lbs. Oz. 60 40 -56°'8 Ways) 15) 24 55°7-13'5 _ 140 11 24 51:0-69:3—; i 14 2 27 55°1-64:0 144 4 26 50°8-66:0 sot 150 o4 Parl 53°4-68 2 a 140 12 35 47 -59°7 a 129 4 24 55°3-72 wed 139 8 Q 25 52°8-69°7 60°4 18) AL 42 33°7-67°9 Ae 135 9 11 57°9-87°6 74:8 138 6 17 52°6-80°8 64:0 132,13 15 55°9-78'8 66°2 132 12 21 56° —73°3 63°1 147 10 23 55°1-68°3 60°4 139 14 D4 54°7-68'°4 60°1 144 — 23 55°7-68°7 60°7 isi; 1 23 54°3-70'1 61°4 146 12 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 95 TRAWLING INVESTIG ATIONS—TABLE II. MEDIUM PLAICE. Length—Cm. Range. 32°4-51 33°1-54'6 35 —51 32-2-51-4 33°5-57'1 33°1-54 30°4-44°9 30°5-56'8 31°5-48°1 Average. He Go GO He Oo GO LO 00 OD me He OF orion) Ww boo 39-0 40-0 43°3 46-0 35°6 me, , WI 8 o : Sab ne Weight. Remarks. In Bulk. | Separately. Lbs. Oz. | Lbs. Oz 131 4 if 135 13 = 129) = 125 126: 8 ain 131 5 fe 1A 55 1255 tO 1383 oe Be te eae 137 15 137 12 127d 126 12 ane PAE 183 119 4 7 el 128 8 128 1 | Small, medium. V48) = = Wiss 135 - i 147 8 137) 12 139 12 S35} 143 «6 137 14 144 12 140 7 ve 142 Be 130 13 129 8 128 15 128 14 129 8 129 6 140 3 So 138 13 " 96 Part L1I.—Twenty-second Annua Keport TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE II. SMALL PLAICE. Length—Cm. Weight. Nee : Remarks. Range. Average. | In Bulk. | Separately. Lbs. Oz. | Lbs. Oz. 205 223-36 °2 29°4 pe 126 7 215 24°1-35 29°4 131 13% Fle 210 23°4-35°6 oe 128 - PAL?| 228-36 36 129 8 150 26 °3-39°6 32°5 129 10 107 31°4-40°2 a 118 10 145 24°7-38°4 Sh 33 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 97 TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE II. LARGE WITCHES. Length—Cm. Weight. nce SS a le REE ee Remarks. Range. Average. | In Bulk. | Separately. Lbs. Oz. | Libs. Oz. 133 32°7-47°8 39°7 Bat 125 14] Also 3 megrims=3 Ibs. 104 oz. 143 33°6-49°7 39°4 se 121. 8 | Also 1 megrim=1 lb. 7 02. 113 32°5-49 3 43-2 > 134 4 119 32 -50 42-7 roe 137 12 129 31°8-53 39 125 4 123 7 | Alsol megrim=8 oz. 131 33°5-49°6 sil 121 13 er 115 31:0-50°3 38°3 136 13 136 4 143 29°8-48°1 pe 142 7 ant 137 30°1-48 sa 132. - 152 30°8-47°5 | on 128 8 161 33 -45°7 oe 133 3 156 31:°3-47°55 | 38-7 186 10 135 12 160 32°3-50°1 ae 127 13 es 125 2°4-49 41°6 123 8 122 15 99 32°8-53°6 40°7 122 6 121 1 | Gutted. 98 Part I1I.—Twenty-second Annual Report TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE II. SMALL WITCHES. Length—Cm. Weight. No. of Remarks. Fish. Range. Average. | In Bulk. | Separately. ibs: (Oz. Libs: ‘Oz: 292 22 6-352 29°8 103 8 ss Also 12 megrims and 2, lemon dabs= 6 lbs. 7 oz. 323 19) =35°2 107 +4 44] 19-8-34°6 116 10 423 18°1-33°7 106 13 315 24°0--40°6 list) © 2 240 28 2-40 114 O 298 21°6-36°9 106 «8 304 19°7-36'2 2 302 24 -2-37:9 104. 6 378 21°1-34°6 93 5 407 19°1-37°3 122 14 SMALL LEMON DABS. Length—Cm. Weight. No. Oe a ee ee Remarks. Fish. Range. Average. | In Bulk. | Separately. Lbs. Oz. | Lbs. Oz. 193 17 2 256 20°6-34° of the Fishery Board for Scotland. NS, TRAWLING INVESTIGATIONS—TABLE ITI. LARGE LEMON DABS. Length—Cm. Weight. Ne. of Remarks. Range. Average. | In Bulk. | Separately. Lbs. Oz. | Lbs. Oz. 115 28 5-443 35°3 142 - 138 12 99 29-9-45°7 37°6 145 4 145 8 100 28°7-46°0 , 134 - we 93 29-746 °7 38 147 15 145 3 104 28°1-48 ‘2 Rate 147 12 bt 115 28 8-47 °6 35°8 TOL 6 150 (O 89 264-47 °7 135 «6 91 269-452 se 134 11 oa | 97 27 0-45 37°6 142 7 141 5 88 28-1-48°1 375 127 15 126 11 93 31 -44°7 ae 140 1 set 85 305-466 141 2 88 26°4-46°3 at 140 14 bet 84 276-46 °7 39:0 141 9 140 12 110 29 -46°4 369 142 4 141 13 83 28 °8-47°4 382 129° "6 129° 0 114 "29 -46°0 360 149 5 146 10 84 32°1-45°9 Be 146 13 i COMMON DABS. Length—Cm. _ Weight. No. of Fish, Remarks. Range. Average. | In Bulk. | Separately. Lbs. Oz. | Lbs. Oz. 115 21:9-40°6 270°7 59 15? | Also 1 megrim and 4 lemon dabs= 1 lb. 6% oz, 109 21-7-38°6 100 Part I1I--Twenty-second Annual Report II.—CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIFE-HISTORIES OF THE EDIBLE CRAB (CANCER PAGURUS) AND OF OTHER DECAPOD CRUSTACEA:—IMPREGNATION: SPAWN- ING: CASTING: DISTRIBUTION: RATE OF GROWTH. By H. Cuas. Witcramson, M.A., D.Sc., Marine : Laboratory, Aberdeen. (Plates I.-V.) CONTENTS. PAGE The Impregnation of Cancer pagurus, 101 The Muscular System of the Abdomen of the Male Crab, ; 103 The Action of the Penis, : 2 : ; 104 The Condition of the Spermatheca, . . 5 105 The Impregnation of Carcinus menas, : : c 107 The Spawning of Cancer pagurus, . 108 The Mode of Attachment of the | Eggs: to the Swimmeret, : : 108 The Swimmeret, ‘ . : : : 110 The Endopodite, : : : : ‘ 110 The Exopodite, : : : 2 4 iti) The Ripe Egg, : : : 112 The Attachment of the Eggs, c : : 115 The Sloughing of the Empty Egg-capsules, . : 116 The Attachment of the Eggs in other ‘Decapod Crustacea, « 116 The Spawning of Carcinus menas, . 120 The Casting, Distribution, and Rate of Growth of Cancer Pagurus, : : ; : 121 The Migrations of Cancer pagur U8; - 6 135 The Changes in the Carapace of Cancer pa yur Uy b : 136 Literature, . ; . ‘ : 11837/ Explanation of the Plates, : : : : : 138 In the Eighteenth Annual Report of the Fishery Board (1900) I published a paper dealing generally with the life-history of the crab. Since then I have, as occasion offered, continued my observations on this form, and on other Decapod Crustacea. Attention has been directed specially to the phenomena of Impregnation and Spawning. While the fact of the impregnation was well evidenced by the presence of the internal spermatheca liberally stocked with sperms, the exact mode in which the sperms were transferred to the female was not very apparent. With a view to elucidating the process a detailed examination has been made of the copulatory organs of the male, and the spermatheca of the female. While every stage in the process of impregnation has not yet been determined, still a considerable advance towards the full description of it has been attained. In connection with the spawning of the higher Crustacea the attach- ment of the eggs to the endopodite branches of the pleopods has been variously described. The secret of the attachment has been ascribed to various agencies, the principal of which has been the assistance of a strong cement which glued the eggs to the hairs. This I have been able to show is not the case. The stalk of the egg is really formed by the * Contributions to the Life-History of the Edible Crab (Cancer pagurus).” Highteenth Annual Report of the Fishery Board, Part III. yA of the Fishery Board for Scotland 101 outer envelope of the egg. The chorion of the egg is pierced by a hair of the endopodite. The hair skewers the eggs on one after the other until it is filled. Observations on the distribution of the edible crab, and additions to the list of the labelled crabs which have been recaptured, are also included in this paper. IMPREGNATION. The act of impregnation is not very easily studied. It takes place immediately after the female crab has cast. The conjunction of the male with the female is so close, and at the same time so readily broken, that it is not possible to follow the act completely by direct observation. The study of the anatomy of the parts, however, enables one to understand the operation in a satisfactory degree. While it is probably the case that in the Brachyura impregnation takes place in a similar way in each species, still the great variety in the form of the intromittent organ,* and also of the vagina, of different species naturally infers a certain amount of dissimilarity in the details of the operation. An attempt was made to observe the fertilisation in Cancer pagurus, but actual coition was not seen. The female, which had just cast, was put in beside a hard male crab. The female was so soft that it yielded to the pressure of the fingers in every part. It lay a plump, almost inert mass when it was withdrawn from the water. The male was in a box a little more than 1 ft. cube. The female was introduced at the corner farthest away from it. The female immediately made its way towards the male, and when it came within reach of its chele it remained perfectly still : the male then gathered the female up with its legs and tucked her under- neath him. Sometimes the female was right side up, at another she was turned upside down beneath the male. In the case of Carcinus menas, the male, on seizing hold of the female, immediately introduces its penes into the vulve. This did not happen in the case of Cancer pagurus. This species appeared less at home in the boxes: the quantity of light was probably too great. The male and the female were accustomed to lie perfectly still. The former does not injure the female except by accident, as for example when it is interfered with. The crab is extremely quick in noticing a shadow cast on the water, and throws its chele wildly about to find the foe whose presence has been thus heralded. On one occasion, when the two crabs had been separated in order to be examined, the male on being released blindly striking out seized the chela of the female and destroyed the limb. Impregnation was effected in the case of the crabs (C. pagurus) in the Laboratory, but probably at night, as it was not observed. The male sexual organ consists of three parts. First, the genital papilla (fig. 47), which contains the external opening of the vas deferens, v.d.; second and third, the appendages of the first and second abdominal segments. Each of these organs is paired, so that there is a double male organ, consisting of three parts. The female genital organs are also paired. The genital papilla (g.p., figs. 39, 41,47) is situated on the coxopodite of the fifth pereiopod.t The vas deferens issues through a hole (0., fig. 55a) in the coxopodite, and is protected externally by the wide sac-like genital papilla, the wall of which is strong though soft. The papilla is capable of distension, and in the living crab is usually turgid. This condition appears to be due to the introduction of fluid into the space surrounding * Brocchi. + Cf. Grobben and Brocchi. 102 Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report the vas deferens. The hole in the ccxopodite round which the base of the papilla is attached is situated close to the proximal edge of the bone, and when the limb is drawn forward the base of the papillla is pressed up against the edge of the sternum of the thorax (c.p., figs. 39 and 41). The effect of this is to render the papilla more tense and erect. The outer skin is invaginated into the end of the vas deferens. Withinthe papilla there is on the vas deferens a valve (v., fig. 47) surrounded by a white mass, probably muscular. The genital papilla has been termed the penis (Duvernoy*). It is not the penis in Cancer pagurus ; it is a physical impossibility for the genital papillae to reach the vulvee of the female. The sperms have to be transferred from the papilla by means of the abdominal appendages. The remaining genital organs are the abdominal appendages. They are attached to the first and second segments and are very dissimilar in form. They are in fact complementary. The first appendage is of tapering shape, and is tubular. The tube is formed by the involution of its sides. The second appendage is a long rod, bent, and jointed about the middle of its length. Different authors have ascribed different functions to these appendages. Thus they have been regarded as “ exciting organs,” which were introduced into the vagine of the female, and on being withdrawn their places were taken by the genital papille. Duvernoy described the first abdominal appendage as a duct for transferring the sperms from the “penis” (genital papilla) to the spermatheca ; the second abdominal appendage he supposed to be a sort of strut, which rested on the thorax of the female and thus formed a sort of prop between the male and female when in cottu. Neither of these descriptions meets the fact. The first and second abdominal appendages together form one organ, the penis. The second or rod-like appendage is during copulation inclosed within the first penis and moves up and down in it like the plunger of a pump. It is first necessary to describe the abdominal appendages in detail. The first appendage, which will be hereafter referred as the first penis (while the second abdominal appendage will be denominated the second penis), is the more complicated. The First Penis. The first segment of the abdomen bears a large chevron-shaped expansion on its ventral surface (fig. 65). This chevron is really double; a small chevron (é.ch.), which is united with the larger (0.ch., fig. 46) posteriorly, is hid beneath the latter anteriorly. The double chevron is continued backwards on either side as a broad wing-like plate, at the end of which is attached the first penis(1 p.). The first penis consists of two parts, a short basal joint and a long tubular distal part (fig. 37). The basal joint consists of a peculiarly shaped bone (0., figs. 7b, and 59) to which is attached some loose membranous tissue. The membranous tissue is shown in the sketches by dotted areas. The involution of the two sides of the distal portion forms a single tube open- ing by the separation of the two sides at the top. The opening is towards the median line. Fig. 25 shows a transverse section of the first penis near the tip, with the second penis zz situ. The outer skin of the penis is hard bony chitin, but lining the tube the inner surface is soft flexible membrane. The latter is shown in the sketches by a thick black line. Fig. 16 shows an intermediate section, and fig. 4 exhibits a transverse section near the base. It shows the sides of the penis drawn * Duvernoy, ‘‘Fragments sur les organes de génération de divers animaux.” Mémoires de V Académie des Sciences de (Institut de France, t. xxiii., p. 105, Pl. I.-IX., Paris, 1853. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 103 apart, throwing the second penis outside, but at the same timea longitudinal septum (m., figs. 37, 59, 60) has appeared which continues the tube. It is merely a continuation of the side of the penis by a soft flexible membrane instead of by the hard chitin wall. The second penis is situated behind the first, and when it is introduced into the first penis it crosses over this membrane, which yields readily to pressure. In length the membrane is short ; it is united below to the basal bone and forms the tissue binding that bone on one side to the tubular part of the first penis. In fig. 10 is shown a transverse section through the base. The basal bone (0., fig. 59), has a large segment cut out of it, leaving its proximal part simply a narrow rim to which the membranous septum is attached. The membrane stops just a little beyond the point where the inturned edges of the penis meet and form the tube. The tube of the penis opens in the base on the anterior side. The posterior side of the beginning of the tube is formed by the membrane. The genital papilla is inserted in the beginning of the tube. When the second penis is inthe first, its broadened base lies on the posterior surface of the basal joint. Any pressure of the second penis due to its movement is transmitted through the membrane to the genital papilla (fig. 60). Moreover, as will be shown later, the second penis moves up and down in the first in a manner similarto that of the plungerofa pump; so that sperms or spermatophores ejected from the vas deferens into the penis tube will be pumped up and out of it. The groups of hairs that are found on the wing of the chevron and round the basal joint act as valves or packing round and in the beginning of the tube. The Second Penis. The second penis is rod-like. It consists of three main parts, first an arm from the end of which the rod rises at right angles (ar., figs. 65, 61, etc.). This arm, which is fused to the ventral edge of the second joint, is formed in its lower half of chitin and in its upper part of soft membrane, in figs. 65 and 68. The arm is the immovabie part of the second penis. From its posterior extremity rises the movable penis. It consists of two parts, viz., a base and the rod. The base consists of two bones, a. and 6., figs. 53,54, and 56, loosely connected together and to the proximal end of the rod with soft membrane. The largest bone is of a tooth-shape. It consists of a rather broad tooth rising from an expanded base. The other is a narrow somewhat bow-shaped bone. The loose integument between it and the other basal bone permits of the former folding over towards the latter to a considerable degree. The proximal end of the rod is expanded and cut obliquely off (7d.). Distally the rod tapers, at first rapidly then gradually, up to about two- thirds of its length, where there is a joint permitting a slight amount of movement. The loose part of the rod is curved, with the convexity forward. At the joint there is on the anterior side a little tuft of long spine-like teeth (fig. 104). Above the joint the rod tapers more, and it is curved in the opposite sense to the proximal portion. The tip bears a depressed oval cap set obliquely on the end ; it is fringed with teeth (fig. 105). The top of the rod is cast slightly in towards the median line. The Muscular System. Tur Aspomen.—The posterior edge of the carapace has attached to its under surface on each side a membranous plate directed forward into which a muscle is inserted. This plate is attached by a strong membrane to the edge of the outer chevron, and the muscle is inserted into the posterior 104 Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report edge of the epimeron. The truncated membranous tip of the first abdo- minal segment is attached round its sides to the inside of the carapace. The inner chevron is attached by a long jointed rod (r., figs. 52 and 65) to a delicate muscle inserted on both sides of the bottom of the thoracic cavity. A small muscle arises on the under surface of the outer chevron and joins this bony rod. The outer chevron is fastened to the posterior edge of the thoracic cavity by means of a membrane attached to its anterior edge. The muscular system of the abdomen of the Brachyura has been briefly described by Duvernoy. Fig. 52 shows a median longitudinal section of the abdomen of the male Cancer. Half of the abdominal muscles only are of course shown. The muscles consist of flexors and extensors. There are two very long flexors, arising on the thorax, and being inserted one into the telson, the other into the skin covering the ventral surface of the united third, fourth, and fifth joints. The abdomen is flexed or extended as a single structure. The telson has movement independent of the remainder of the abdomen ; thus it may, when the abdomen is flexed on to the thorax, be bent backwards from the thorax to permit the escape of the feeces, while the abdomen itself remains fast. Between the second and third joints and between the sixth joint and telson there are pairs of muscles (a flexor and extensor on each pair). At each of these joints there is a larger movement than at the other abdominal joints. Between 1 and 2, and between 2 and 3 the action of the joint is extension and flexion : the latter joint is freer than the former and affords more extension than any of the joints: between 5 and 6 there is flexion alone practically: and between the sixth and the telson there is flexion mainly, but also extension. First Penis.—In the first penis there is a muscle which, arising on the surface of the basal bone (0.) and also from the side of the tubular part, is inserted farther up the same, mv, fig. 59, and 7, fig, 48. The muscle will have the effect of tending to cause the bending of the two parts of the penis towards one another. There are in addition two muscles, 2 and 3, fig. 48, which arise from the outer half of the chevron and are inserted into the basal bone. The upper muscle draws the first penis forward : the lower tends to rotate the penis. The two sides of the double chevron are connected by membrane. The chevrons, although fixed to the first abdominal segment, are not absolutely rigid. They are elastic. Szeconp Prnis.—Just as in the first penis, there is also in the second penis a muscle connecting the terminal part with the basal joint. In this case the muscle, mz., arises on the tooth-like basal bone, figs. 61 and 66, and is inserted a little way up the rod. Another muscle (mu.', ib.) is inserted into the same basal bone: it arises from the side of the fixed arm of the second penis. A third muscle arises from the downward-bent end of the arm and is inserted into a bony button-like prominence on the ventral skin of the third joint (m.'", fig. 46). A long muscle arising from the front of the chevron is inserted into the third joint (m.’, 7b.) ; and a broad muscle, 7.”, that rises from the base of the fixed arm is inserted on the anterior border ot the inner chevron. The Action of the Penis. If the genital papilla of a hard male crab is pressed spermatophores may be extruded. When the abdomen of a male crab is examined the genital papilla is sometimes found inserted into the tube of the first penis, but oftener it is lying on the posterior surface of the base of that organ. But if the first penis is drawn backwards into the position it occupies when in the vagina of the female the papilla usually slips into the tube, and if the fifth pereiopod is brought forward in such a way that the of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 105 genital papilla is pressed up against the edge of the sternum the intro- duction is aided. The coxopodite of the fifth pereiopod abuts into the narrow neck of the abdomen at the first and second segments, and the genital papilla lies just beneath the first penis. Occasionally a male has been found in which the second penis was inside the first, but usually they are separate. When the united penes are inserted into the vaginz, the abdomen is fixed at both ends. The telson lies on the thorax of the female, and the beginning of the abdomen is fixed at its proximal end by its connection to the thorax. The first penis is then held firmly, but is capable of retraction and re-insertion. The second penis is, however, free to work up and down in the first penis quite independently of it. See figs. 44 and 45. In fig. 44, which is intended to represent the position occupied by the abdomen of the male during coition, A and B are the fixed points, B being the thorax of the female, A the carapace of the male crab. The abdomen of the female is outside and closely applied to the abdomen of the male. The drawing shows the condition in which the second penis is completely entered into the first, and its tip appears projecting outside the tip of the first. In this position it is to be noted that joints 2 and 3 are extended, z.e. the joint between them is depressed. In the drawings they are shown upside down. Now by the flexing of joints 2 and 3 the second penis is withdrawn partly from the first, while the first remains stationary (fig. 45). By each movement the second penis presses on the genital papilla, and therefore probably causes the issue of spermatophores into the tube. The efficacy of the pumping arrangement was demonstrated experi- mentally. A small quantity of a thin carmine paste was introduced into the bottom of the tube, and by alternately pushing in and withdrawing the second penis the carmine was pumped out at the top. By the flexion and extension of the portion of the abdomen, then, the sperms (spermatophores) would be gradually transferred to the spermatheca, into which the first penis penetrates. The Condition of the Spermatheca. If the soft female crab after it has been impregnated is examined, it will be found that the mouth of the spermatheca and the vagina is filled up by a large plug of white material (pi., fig. 49). This plug may be usually split into two halves, as was shown in a previous paper.* The sperma- theca is globular in shape and is filled with an amber-coloured fluid, and a more or less extensive white patch of sperms, situated in the proxi- mal and external part of the organ. The top of the plug which extends just within the spermatheca is soft and pulpy, being in contact with the fluid, whereas in the vagina the plug is hard and fibrous in appearance, It has been noticed that the top of the plug has been grooved or scored as if a thin body had been repeatedly impressed in it. In a hard female crab which has been impregnated the spermatheca is of much smaller size than in the soft crab (fig. 67). It is then flattened, shrunk, disc-shaped, and contains a quantity of sperms (sp.) and some amber-coloured hard material (s/.), which is the solidified remains of the fluid which filled the spermatheca at the time of fertilisation. The inner wall of the spermatheca (sp.w.) and the vagina (v.w.) are con- tinous, but that of the spermatheca is much the thinner (fig. 38). In my previous paper on Cancer pagurus I stated that the inner lining of the spermatheca and the contents of the latter were thrown off with the cast integument during the moult, an opinion held also by Cano. * “Contributions to the Life History of the Edible Crab (Cancer pagurus).” Eighteenth Ann. Report of Fishery Board for Scotland, Pt. I11,, 1900. 106 Part ITI.—Twenty-second Annual Report This I find is not the case, with adult crabs at least. Each crab which I have examined after it had cast, and before it had been in contact with the male, was found to have a spermatheca resembling in general that of a hard crab, 7.e., it contained a quantity of sperms and some amber-coloured solid. If a soft crab which has been with the male, and is plugged, be dissected, no amber solid will be found in the spermatheca, and there is usually a large quantity of sperms with a large quantity of amber fluid. When does the crab get rid of the old sperms and amber solid? The inner lining of the spermatheca, although it does not come away during moulting, is nevertheless very loosely attached, and I have drawn out the inner lining and the contents of the spermatheca, along with the lining of the vagina, through the vulva, in a dead hard crab. On casting only a very little of the inner lining of the spermatheca is shed ; that is, the part round the mouth. Just inside the spermatheca the lining thins out quickly. The mouth of the spermatheca is surrounded by a sphincter muscle, mu., fig. 38. The break between the lining of the vagina and that of the sperma- theca takes place near the point where the thick layer of the vagina thins down to that of the spermatheca (fig. 38), In the newly cast crab, moreover, there was no fluid in the spermatheca. The spermatheca of the crab has a glandular secreting surface. It is probably the case that the secretion of the fluid causes the loosening of the inner layer, and on the introduction of the penis the amber solid and the old sperms may be expelled with the outflow of fluid. The secretion of fluid in the sperma- theca is possibly stimulated by the presence of the male. The vulvze are always tightly closed except when they are kept open by the plugs. On the introduction of the penis the fluid will flow out round it in the vagina and will prevent the entrance of sea-water into the spermatheca. Vide diagram, fig. 55. This fluid coagulates with sea-water, forming a whitish precipitate. The plug in the vagina is of a hard fibrous structure and of white colour. During the time the male and female are in conjunction, a period of probably several days, the piston-action of the second penis would transfer the sperms to the spermatheca. The crab, then, on casting does not get rid of the remains of the old stock of sperms until it has the opportunity of being impregnated afresh. Some experiments were made with certain crabs which cast during 1902, August 31st to October 15th, and the results are of interest. A female, measuring 52 inches across, was put with the male crab as soon as it was seen to have cast, and four days later pieces of plug were seen projecting from the vulve. Another measuring 5 inches was separate from the male two days after, and at that time a plug projected from the vulva. A female crab, measuring 62 inches across, was kept for four days after casting. It was not in contact with a male crab. It was then killed: no fluid was found in the spermatheca. Six days after casting the soft crab which measured 6, inches across, and which had not been in contact with a male crab, was dissected. The spermatheca contained sperms and a row of hard amber-coloured solid. A small soft crab, viz. 4} inches across, was put with a male crab. Twenty-four hours after, no plugs were seen, but they were visible two days after the introduction of the female. It is to be noted that while in the male crab the sperms are contained in spermatophores, in the spermatheca the sperms are loose ; in very few cases was a spermatophore seen. According to Duvernoy, sea-water causes the spermatophores to burst. The extrusion of the spermatophores from the vas deferens is no doubt aided or effected by the following circumstances. The vas deferens of the hard male crab is usually in a swollen condition, and therefore the of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 107 opening of the valve in the genital papilla would immediately be followed by a free issue of spermatophores. The opening of the valve may be due to the pressure of the second penis as it moves in the first, aided possibly by the forward movement of the fifth pereiopod, which will result in increasing the turgidity of the papilla. A portion of white plug material has been found on the penis in more than one crab. One case calls for special mention. A large male crab, 6 inches across, hard, was examined at the beginning of June. The second penis was inside the first, the genital papilla was inserted into the beginning of the tube. Projecting from the aperture in the tip of the first peuis there was a narrow rod-like white body. At the inner side of the base of the first penis there was a small white mass. On examining the rod with the microscope it was found to be a tube crammed with spermatophores ; on its outer surface there were sperms and spermatophores. The tube was formed of parallel fibres. It was found in one penis only. No spermatophores were found in the lower white mass, which had the same fibrous appearance that the plug has. In no case were spermatophores found in the spermatheca packed in a tube. The tube, if it is the normal condition, may act simply as a sheath inside of which the spermatophores travel. It is formed simply by the intro- duction by the base of the penis of some of the fluid of the spermatheca which had flowed out from the vagina. By working the second penis in piston-fashion the tube was gradually pushed out of the first penis. It had apparently been connected to the white mass at the base. Tue IMPREGNATION OF CARCINUS M&NAS. The structure of the intromittent organs and of the spermatheca differs considerably from those of Cancer pagurus. It is not, however, proposed to deal with these differences, but to describe the act of fertilisation so far as it was possible to follow it with the naked eye. It is not likely to be strictly homologous to that in Cancer. Carcinus menas is not apparently incommoded to any considerable ex- tent by captivity, and it is possible to observe the act of impregnation. . In the following case the male was put into a glass jar, and a female which had cast the previous night was then introduced beside it (September 16th). The male immediately turned the female, with the assistance of the latter, upside down. The female raised (or extended) its abdomen and brought it outside the abdomen of the male. The male then extended its abdo- men, and rested its telson (bent at right angles to the abdomen) on the thorax of the female between the vulve, immediately thereafter inserting its penes into the two apertures. These operations took place in a few moments. The male then pushed the penes into the vagine and drew them out slightly, about once every two seconds, but while under obser- vation intermittently. The male carries the female about with it, and the female is attached to the male simply by the hooked penes. The legs of neither crab are used for attachment. The penis appears to be inserted only a short distance. On September 18th the two crabs were still im coitw, but on the 20th they were separate. The female was now fairly hard. It was killed on the 20th. There were no externally projecting plugs. Thespermatheca was filled with a large irregular plug which projected a little way into the vagina. In the vagina from the end of the plug just mentioned to the vulva there was another short plug with a rounded upper extremity; along its length it showed a slight groove. Round the external end of the spermatheca and along the vagina there is a layer of gelatinous-like tissue, 108 Part IT[.—Twenty-second Annual Report probably glandular. Some spermatophores were found on the plug inside the spermatheca. In the vagina of the other side the short plug was absent. A female which cast between the 22nd and 23rd October, and which had not been in contact with a male, was dissected on the latter date. It was already fairly hard, the integument resembling in feel stiffish brown paper. The spermatheca was large, with thick walls; it had a little white mass at its mouth. There was a certain amount of fluid in both spermathece, but the latter were nut globular. Tur SPAWNING OF CANCER PAGURUS. The Mode of Attachment of the Eggs to the Swimmerets. The external eggs of the edible crab are, like those of other decapod crustacea, carried, during incubation, on the hairs of the inner branches of the swimmerets of the female. They are arranged on the hairs from their bases to the tips as thickly as they can lie. When the hair of a berried crab is examined, a condition similar to that shown in fig. 21 is seen. The eggs are attached by independent stalks to the hair, and they are moreover so closely set together that their stalks intertwine. As, however, the egg is not always attacbed to one hair alone, but some- times to two, we have the hairs grouped in bunches which correspond to their whorl arrangement on the endopodite, e.7., cf. fig. 26. The inter- twining of the stalks of eggs also tends to bind the hairs together. How do the eggs become attached so closely and regularly and in a manner so economical of the space at their disposal ? Several agencies have been invoked to explain this. Cano* and Herrick have each given an historical resumé of the theories held with regard to the mode in which the attachment of the eggs to the pleopods was brought about. It is not necessary to recapitulate it nor Cano’s full discussion of the egg-membranes of the decapods. According to Lere- boullet{ certain zoologists had explained the attachment of the ova to an extension of the primary egg-membrane. There has, however, been general agreement that the fixation of the egg is due to a cement with which it is coated; that the egg becomes in one way or another covered with a cement which on exposure to sea- water hardens, after having glued the egg to the hair of a pleopod. The cement was supposed to be derived from the ovary or oviduct by Milne Edwards and Rathke ; from the spermatheca by Cavolini and Cano,$ and in the case of Astacus from the integumental glands found on the pleopods and ventrum of the abdomen by Lereboullet and Braun. While in the case of macrurous decapods this explanation might not be dismissed on a priori grounds, it is impossible to accept it as applicable to the Brachyura. It matters not how the cement is produced, the question reduces itself to this position—Given an egg coated with a cement strong enough to form the stalk of the egg, which resists rupture for a period of eight or nine months, a period during which time the swimmerets are being continually agitated in order to aerate the eggs, is it at all likely that it would always attach itself to a hair, and never to another egg similarly coated? If we examine the eggs of a Cancer *Cano, ‘‘ Morfologia dell’ apparecchio sessuale femminile, glandole del cemento, e fecondazione nei Crostacei Decapodi.” Mittheil. Zool. Stat. zu Neapel, ix. Bd., 4 Heft., 1890. + ‘The American Lobster.” Bull. U.S. Fish Commission for 1895, p. 127. + Herrick, ‘‘The American Lobster.” Bull. U.S. Fish Commission for 1895. § Cano, op. cit. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 109 pagurus, Carcinus manas, Portunus sp., Hyas sp., etc., we will find the eggs attached by their long stalks to the hairs of the endopodites. They are closely set together, but in no case do we find two eges stuck together. If the eggs had been coated with cement, they could not have avoided sticking together, and also to the exopodites. What special affinity can there be between the cement and the hair which does not exist between the cement of two eggs? If the cement on being acted upon by sea- water hardened, what is to prevent the two eggs from sticking together? When the eggs are extruded they lie in the incubatory chamber formed by the curved abdomen in a semi-fluid mass, and they are there retained by the overlapping exopodites. The latter prevent the eggs flowing out over the edge of the abdomen. Now if each egg were coated with a layer of cement, we should have the eggs concreted into a solid mass, and while the endopodites would be imbedded in it, the exopodites would be probably glued to the outside. The eggs never attach themselves to the exopodites with which they are in close contact. No cement is supplied by the spermatheca. When the eggs are extruded the spermatheca is dry except for the pasty white mass of sperms; the solid remains of the spermatheca fluid are present. This solid is the consolidated residue of the fluid which was secreted by the spermatheca just after the crab cast and when it was impregnated. Cano evidently supposed that the cement was secreted by the sperma- theca. The egg does not derive a coating of cement from the ovary. The ripe eggs, if taken out of the ovary, sometimes have a slight coating of an albuminous substance ; ; lt is derived from the yolk of ruptured eggs, which is somewhat sticky, for by it an egg may become attached to ‘the bottom of the vessel in which it is; but the union is of the slightest, and a touch from a camel-hair brush is enough to dislodge the egg. That the attachment does not result from an external coating of cement is there- fore apparent. An opportunity which I had of observing the spawning of Cancer pagurus has enabled me to describe the manner in which the attachment of the eggs is effected. The fact that the eggs are attached to the hairs of the endopodite, which are smooth, and not to the hairs of the exopodite, which are plumose, necessitates a condition in which an attrac- tion or affinity exists between the egg and the endopodite hair which does not exist between it and the exopodite hair. The conditions which are necessary to the regular attachment of the eggs to the hairs of the endopodite, and to them alone, are the following— (1) the eggs themselves must not be coated with a fluid which is of itself sufficient to cause it to adhere to anything when it is extruded, or other- wise we should have the eggs adhering to one another ; (2) the hairs must not likewise be coated with an adhesive cement, or they also would be glued together ; (3) after extrusion a condition must arise which will lead to the attachment of the eggs to the hairs of the pleopods, and the relation is one which acts between each egg and some particular hair. The intimate relationship between the egg and the hairis due to the hair acting as a skewer upon which the eggs are impaled and strung. On extrusion the ripe egg has two investing membranes, the outer or chorion and the very delicate vitelline membrane, the ‘“‘ dotterhaut ” of Rathke. The hair perforates the chorion and enters the “ perivitel- line chamber,” and passes out again without piercing the vitelline membrane which is so closely applied to the yolk-sphere, and is more- over so delicate that it is not readily recognised. The process is more easily followed when the structure of the abdominal appendages is examined, 110 Part IT1.—Twenty-second Annual Report The endopodite and exopodite of the pleopod are very different from one another, and their different functions are very evident from a minute examination of their forms. They will therefore be described below in detail. In addition to the discussion of this question in the case of Cancer pagurus, observations on the spawning of Carcinus menas, and on the manner of egg-attachment in Homarus, Nephrops, Munida, and other forms, will be added. The Swimmerets. There are four pairs of swimmerets, attached to the second, third, fourth, and fifth abdominal joints respectively, fig. 15. Each consists of an outer, the exopodite (ex.), and an inner branch, the endopodite (en.). The description of the swimmeret of Carcinus menas by M‘Intosh* applies very well to Cancer pagurus :—‘‘First pair of Abdominal Feet.—The internal limb [endopodite] is clothed for the most part with long, delicate, silky hairs, which are simple throughout, with the exception of some branched hairs at the base, best seen on the anterior surface of the fore- most limb. The former are pale and translucent, and come off in distinct bundles all the way up from their commencement. The tufts above the middle joint arise from the upper part of each of the pseudo-joints that compose the flabellar extremity, being situated, likewise, only on the posterior surface and sides of the limb, the anterior surface being free. The hairs themselves are very beautiful, presenting externally a brownish or yellow outline, within this a pale streak, and then a more or less granular central portion . . . The external limb is covered with branched hairs from base to apex along both outer and inner edges, the hairs on the outer row being rather longer than those on the inner. ‘sqvip OLI—T06T AIne | 2 - = + + ‘sqeig 6FF—006T AIne | 9 f : : - ‘sqeiQ €FZ—O06T oun | g i P 5 - ‘sqvaQ Ses—IOGT oun | F oe - ‘BRIN L6I—T106T Av | € eee ecu erneen ato wie | elope |e ig eh egimulngs le pas env u| gee ih ieee i amelie P £ L I I - qe 6 I 7 ee ‘a i A : ; : i : ; : ; - 5 5 = — sqeaQ 6T—TO6T Idy | z SE se Pa FP PS Te aN LS el Pn ae ena Ma Re Sal tia ote Ae) PI Pe Le Se (AE hig ea Vite er pe ae eta edsaa fee fone camoen ice al Galan en ose ol ‘SqvIQ LI—L06T Youre | T i Lan Lol ro) (Orr Myo) (Crp re) lerr Soyer “roM@np WetOrr “ony ‘a@) (Gar 86 | 96 | 66 | 68 | 98 | 281 64/92/82] 4 | 49 | 89] 9 | ao | oo | te] op | pe] or | ee | oe | “uo ON BR cl we BE) | cl ogrl em Pee ara leben ati ee 1 4 | eetelccprallaccetmnn SN aa ne ee ee ee DOIN JO AVA “AXONS AHL OL ASOIO LOHS STAAUO NI LHYAVO SAVUO—'Il AIAVL Part III —Twenty-second Annual Report 124 “sqeaQ €2oT—I¥}0.L *pajou jou xag , U * * : I I 8 8 OT oT G &@ 9& 62 og 0s &¢ gg 68 6g 69 09 8g 8g 99 98 69 0g 63 — oe SS —— | —— — — —————_— ——— | | : : ; : : ; : ee 2 : ; I : I 2 : Fhe : . T - - - - : : p g P T au |) Oral ten: 9 g Thea RD eer yy L 8 6 9 9 if : : . - : will pe | faa ee | . . ° . eet ox ela So les Ties (logs oeibe Si Bote - - . . : Te lc tls al Pg ec al De fer WO: bs eh cee SY (a Jd a oe lear gm || ech Malpas [he el IF Gira ik = @ : : I : I T 6 ys 6 G gc IL LT 61 PL §1 LT 91 1é 8T IL 8I ST OL 9T ST or 3 a 6 o - : . . - - - : D " r G I { r i T IE § & § 6L | 48L | #8E | LST | S20 | G21 | LAL | 8 OL | ¢-9T | Z-9T | 6ST | > | &ST | 6FT | 9-FT | 8.41 FL | 9-81 | &&T SL | 4-20 | €-OL | 1-20 | 4-10 | FIL | LIL | 8-OL | 9.0L | 6-OT 5 z i & & t $ t 4 L = t § t 3 4 4 9 E t $ i z k $ g $ t 4 v eck Kt D its) “‘pantnjuoo—NDIN JO AVA “AUOHS AHL OL ASOTO LOHS STHHUO NI LHDYAVO SAVYO—'II ATAVL PLATE 220 200 130 160) 190\----------- TOON tas Se “> = fe fn fm eo cf fea en fone fff bp | a ON epe hep fala 3029 CREEL CRABS (3+) Ordinary Crab-Fishing, IV. 1523 CREEL CRABS (+2) Creelts shot clpse ta the Beach_ Groupill. 2336 BEACH CRABS (o'+9 ) IT. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 125 With a view to testing the theory respecting this group (III.) a number of creels were shot during March to August in 1900 and 1901. They were set just outside low-water mark and were occasionally left dry by the ebb. Some of the creels were at times shot in 2 or 3 fathoms. One or two of the creels were covered with small-meshed netting. The number and sizes of the crabs got in.each month are set out in Table IT. In March and April very few crabs were got. This was in part due to the fact that at that period of the year it often happens that bad weather prevents fishing for a considerable time, but this does not account for the small catches. Because even when the creels were fishing, it very often happened that no crab was caught. Their absence from the creels does not necessarily mean their absence from the region. They may not then feed eagerly. Crabs that are kept in the Laboratory during winter became very inactive. The cold has a much more paralysing effect on the edible crab thanit has on Curcinus mcnas, so that it is possible that the inshore crabs may not move about much before the month of May. In this month (May) a considerable number of crabs were got in the creels shot in the same place as in the preceding months. (Vide Table II.) An examination of the catch of crabs shows that it consists of a large number of crabs which fall into the gap between the Beach and the Adult groups, but it also contains a large proportion of adult crabs. The adult crabs appeared in the catches all through the summer. The curve formed by the measurements of these crabs has been intro- duced into a chart along with the curves of the Beach and Adult crabs, The latter are taken from my previous paper (Yables VIIa and LX.) A reference to the chart shows that the new group (red curve) tends to fill up the gap between the twoformer groups. The curve overlaps both groups. It measures from about 2 inches to over 7 inches. The examina- tion of the shore waters was not carried on during the whole of the year, and the inshore migration of the adult crabs introduces larger crabs than actually belong to the group under consideration. We then have in the summer in the shallow inshore water a double group, consisting of the III. and IV. groups. In the autumn and winter, investigation will very probably show that the adult group will be entirely, or almost entirely, absent, and in these seasons, therefore, a better defined Group III. should be found. Rate or GrowTH.—As material for the study of the rate of growth of the crab, I have introduced here the measurements of the monthly collec- tions made on the beach at Dunbar (Table III.), and also the details of the individual catches which were measured (Table V.), The totals were given in my former paper, and the regions where the catches were made are in certain instances given in Zable V. I have also introduced three additional collections made on the beach, Dunbar, in 1899 and 1900 (Table IV.). Mr H. 'T. Waddington, Bournemouth, has kindly furnished me with particulars of two series of casts of this form. The various ecdyses which the two specimens underwent have been carefully recorded by him, and he has permitted me to publish them here (Table VI.). The measurements of the successive casts of a third crab, which were presented by Mr. Waddington to Professor Howes, were kindly supplied to me by Mr. William Wallace, B.Sc., Lowestoft. Specimen A. when captured, viz., in August, measured 3:25 mm.; it had probably been in the megalops stage not more than a month previously. When one year old it measured 30:75 mm., 7.c., 1} inches ; when two years old it measured nearly 46 mm., 2.e., a little less than 2 inches across. Assuming that the rate of growth in nature approxi- mated to the data here given, we should conclude that the beach group con- sisted of crabs in their second year, and that a crab of 44 inches across would be not less than three years, nor probably more than four years old. “paiou Jou sem xas ayy ‘Ayaatqoodsaa ‘tuo 6.¢ ‘9. ‘¢.1 ‘8.1 “6. “ZA ‘asoyy Jo ¢ uy y oo a @ |@ |@ogo €/@¢|/@r/@el@r|@ |@Me]@M |M |Wel@ : in| 22 OMe = I@rl= k=) | aS - ‘SqRID 6ZZ—8EST Aaquiaqgdag () |@+!1@r!]@el@)o|@M |Ms1@ : (1)2 | @e tT} @Ms|@M (1) : (1)3 | | }- |- |- |- P BD Mie Ms |. = : @Me;}Ms;}Mes] - (1) | (9 iE, |e : : : [ells Oe CE) ay | ate I 5 ; - = ‘8q'e1D SEI—86ST JsnSnYy > {G9 RCD) CO) Sa) ee) ra GD? |e e|(s)F] - I [cea [ROD et |e saenes eaee ie e=e | ATE | LQ 3 3 o| - (Ms Tele P| (1) : : I 16 |e iG Lehi lt SERIO ioe aI icy a , - = ‘sqvap $81—g68T Aine (1) 16 |e (2) : (Ds | MF Gilen= Glee T a} - (Ds) = (1)¢ Tylesee| =m ee Teese alice 9 a g 6|/@s| - Gilleme The |e Hil : - Mize = MI yi@Mre |= - So Gy) oe [Rae Pc 5 S - = ‘sqetp ¢I—86ST oune & if 3 if z € g if I 6} @M See RC GH | he CT) Se ACTF CE Ce) ae (ea teen tenis (aca Pp Re z >| ee rd I z 7 I g Giles Calne: iu f ales Gill fie | essen eels i) =o || 3b sS - + ‘sqeatp S6I—868T LeTT = I 9 3| - z if T z g| - I Z| - Z| - - T Sue Sel eh bea fecal CNS |p re) S | - Ee oh a5"|, ele - alee |S = ee joe ee Teer pe Tie ta] Se tele Ere eel x - + ‘SqeaID $OT—868T dy Ta aee : T T g z I T g Tale = : alee - : Call ete ec ilies? |) 5 fe) = aie tp lee Sebaee es alae. ae as Lo Kasswosce = ceale oaielenies > } > + ‘Sq'RAD GEI—8EST Yoreyy 2 arama aa if g T il Lis 8 T T T 1 ae Sales - Gd) ta) a ee aan lt ie se) Ss FNS et le Borie sone or leemier ieee mie eae 1 ese (ieee | era Gacy ne mcs ctl ec | eee 2 - ‘sqvip §9I—S6sT Avenaqag S eee j z if I I z z T g z ik s 3 Calle 8 if || 2 Ra] pata | hen | roan | P SeaiDe le cua l= "| “al aep ie ee meee (es Se G yeh - - - . . 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Gs I. z 6. 8. le 9. | G- | F | S 1S | LT “wp t i it i E § % “sayouy YN a a a ee 7 ———_———————————————— Ee ea ee ee eae “SUOTE SQUAD 4JOS BVOIPUT SJayoutq UTYIIM SLOqUINN oY, ‘SYVID JOS + pavyzy ogvorpur sxoqumy ouy, ‘UVAaNOG LY HOVAd AHL NO SYUVIN-ACIL NAIMLAL ATHLNOW AOIML GaLOaTION SdVHO—'Ill ATAVL 126 127 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. reese @) |@M - |@eé T ()¢|]@e] - IT | @ Gea pond (Ga [aces ete (1) = {@0) 9 : al@2| zl - |@e S| Ge Gta] = Be a eae : Tall <= g T ee | re eee aes g T g 3 3 ee emcclner mee : : ale T Sale erie T A : : alles alae Ee aes : 4 3 Tales [oa ee a ae ae & | it Jel) ea lei nat | ah leg le : z I Tale @l@ |- |@ |@r | @) T | (1) z oer Ps een ee 3 I I Shliee 9 G. if é. z: i (1) if if () | M2} @ Foe ee noel @ | @ 2 Mel ¢ ore 1 | Mz T Care I 3 I F 4 3 g T ENG we | may g g I Cee ee = I I Pa eo Keele aul — z if I @ |@z|@_ I I T @s (#) ¢ ee - > |@ Sig one: Galan 3 if g 6 3 T | (g)¢ (}) | (Me (2) | (1) a ar (1) I 2] @ T z ita: ons - I ar ee 3 g Tere: I 3 I g I 3 hilar I 3 ieee (1) + I @ |@r ()¢ it (agile 3 z 8. 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I~ acho (1) (@) ‘penuyuoo— TIT ATAVL (2) % oo 49) (g) (13 (g) : 1) |@ ———— | — | — | —~ |—_ (1) - @ | @ fo\Or fo/Ot TO Ot *OOr TOlOt FOOb OlOr sOOt 70 Ol, SOO OlOisole 1170) *solpouy - ‘panurjwos—gést aoquisydag - = “panuryjwoo—g68T Jsnsny - = — “panuaquoo—gest AIne 5 - ‘panur1juwoo—gé6st oun - = “panuywoo—gest Le 5 - ‘panuywoo—gest [dy ‘panurjuoo—RERl YOlv]y : ‘panurjquoo—gesgt Arvn.AIgaT - ‘panurnjuoo—gest Arenure - — ‘panurqwoo— 16st requtedaqy - ‘panurjqu0o—LG8T Taquiaao nN : ‘panurquUog—L68T 1240190 129 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. *panuyuoi—" TIT ATAVL ce I. 8 | 62 t ag TOOT OOb TOlOt SO) Ot, NOOO. Oi oOo Or SO OTE TO Ct SorOt SO O+ wd *soyouy - ‘panwijwoo—ge6gt rsquieydag - ‘panua7zUo0o—RERT Jsnsny “panuyquoo—gest Aine ‘panuijzuoo—gegt oun ‘panurzuoo—gegt Av ‘panwijuoo—gegt [dy - ‘panuyzuoo—geEest Youeyy ‘panuaquoo—gegt Areniqa,] ‘panurjzwoo—gest Axenue sr ‘panurjuoo—LEST raquisoeq, “panurzwoor—LE8T IqUIaAON ‘panurzuorIi—L681 1aq0100 2 ; : . 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Wee i. 3 . 3 G i g i € g cat I. = = = ; I g iy 2 I 5 I t & NN | : : ; 2 z I Pole : : : z : 9 ° : I = G il eRe RE Fee (Pe (cae) Ps Pere Rn oui eS Se | Pa Lie Nhat ee mea ra a 3 je EE ee ee RM Netlog ey [te SY [eae ARS [Pe | ge | dy Ae ee (RM P| eRe Pere | Se ET RY j P 4 fe) & p | ‘seyouy | “wo 4 fe) rs fe) & P | ‘seqeul | “wo rs | Pp & p | ‘seyouy | “wo ‘6681 ‘0061 “6681 pe “6681 ‘0061 ‘6681 ae ‘0061 “6681 : qsusny oun Av a21S ae aune AVI Hats oun AVI BZtS 1380 ‘dVGNOG LY HOVE NO GHHNIdVO S€VHO— AI ATAVE ee Ee 131 / Board for Scotland. shen of the F Oh ee “6681 qsnsany ‘0061 aun ion} ‘sqrt 068 f g¢ ‘4 1 1G ‘p—ysnsny ) 4 i) T9 ‘& :a¢ ‘p—oune f "IVLOL, t LOL ‘A ?2aL ‘p—Avyy J fr : - : : ; I 8: : : i = : 5 ml : l. : : i : 5 g g : I alte ewe nal T : Z : : : I ¢. : ; : : : 3 I I i : : $ S ; I I ; : i & | ; : : ; : I G ¢ : : ; - - I : I. : : g I 7 if I I é Pear I 12 Sl: : : : I 6: : : - 2 : : z I 8: ; : I I z z if : 8% !. I ; ie : | : : : g : 99 | - : *‘setouy | 77) & | fe) & P & P | ‘seyour | “wd 4 Pp mg | | aly eS) |e eas |e “penuyvoo—"FVANOG LY HOVEE NO GHYIIdVO SAVUO— ‘AI ATEVL 6 ‘006T eunr so a Set CNN (GO GN ONE 409) = GN et ON tN P rit {0 rhe “soyouy ‘AZIS ) 779) 132 Part ITI—Twenty-second Annual Report a a | a ae ee (2)F (er (Dz g 9 (te g j L P ET |G |S epee | LTA eG an) ean in} TI $ (8) OL \(ET)ZT \(3) 2 (de (19 8 f L g Cree a | 999 L P 8 8 9 \(1) $L \(g) ar 8-01 ¥ (St)9t \(9t)er |(2) 9 \(F)2 \(1)¢ g b i] 7 8 Th lw Ora as : L £ \(s)9 (\(e)¢ G01 i (or) (6) |) (De (az g I z q I I g j Cvilure : g ¢ \(g)¢ ((z)9 6-01 t (or) \(s) so) ula ale I l 7 (i lie Ges ne - z € Keo (De 8-6 t (i 2) : Eee ((0) : : S g j j Goes : ; I aod kd )is &-6 & a 109) ; : 1 a a : j I i] Gore Ge : if @ (ts it) 6-6 P (g) |) ves lee ales = : j eles cr ie ; : : : : fe yee 6:8 ¥ (1) - : ale - : : ; ° : ° - - : : : - : : 9-8 Fy - LT}: : : : : ; : . : : . - = - : . ; ° a8 r - - : : : = : ; . : - - - - : - : . : : 6-2 t - - - - je ap = : : : : - - - - - - - - - - 9-2 & - - : ; tale : : : - : ; - - : - = : : : 1-9 Bid ro) (7 ee} PB | +s ee P 3} | P| 6 eS BIG 2 3} i 3} | 2 pO Renee grax | ‘eeny | ‘crane | ‘gouup | yee | itn | cee | cela | ttle | ofthe aa | i ee ee eee ae ee ee EE EE eee ‘(Ld0g pue GUVy) [e}OI, oy} oprsSucye syoyxovaq UIYIIm UMOYS SI squI Log Jo aaqumnu ouy, ‘66ST wsnrbny 07 JEQT saquaoagy ‘aVENONd ‘SdVdO THAHO—'A ATAVL ‘azlg ove 4v STVLOL, 133 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. (1I)9 \(1)F g 3 z g j g 6 7 7 I @ (te (a I 9 Cie eee 9 j z g (1)L \()0T] 9 : g we hos j &I \(F) 8 6 yi I g iE g EE MGGt le ly esta esd ap Geil er elk 96 (TYEE lime ZT | € z I g 8 P (1) £0 (Zz) 9% (te | - : g l II 6 \((t)1}| 9 g If g g 7 (2) 8st (tos (De | - - é l z (g) 91 \(#)0z] = T ir g z 17 g (1) ST \(Z) 28 \(z) ¢ i! g g g eI ZL \(g) 246] T if j g Z g (¢) 12 \(t) 9% \(1) F I if I ig 6 (g)ot (F) ZT] 1 (te (Ds ‘6 g OL (4) ZI \(¢) 8ST | 3% g [ g Liat 6 Ce i Cis ee adil eoialpe@ —«|> 20 “868T “668T “6681 “6681 ‘g “AON ‘pany ‘CI Ajne ‘6 aun I I koe P j g z Bole I I z alee z I g g I g 6 8 V p Gales 9 l STP 3C0 ae 7 z 7 9 ¢ g 6 g g P 8 8 Zr] 9 TAL Ie og g 9 6 7 PE) Otc ch es l 8 ol] #F 14 tes) 20 8 l z 6 6 OL] 61] 6 FI b \(t)¢ 6 OL} OG\(I)St] FI] 6 6 9 8 Ziel GLEN Peele scl lees g S SE | SL Gai. 82a, 06) oT 6 z Aully eg ab aes yells) 9 l OW CN SAM Gael eae g i] g Gael gE Od Gy 9 8 z 6 104 le ee | fee} 9 re faeces, Fea pet se (meron fete seal en toyed een = _ 8681 8681 _ 8681 _/8681 1G Av g Av Tg “API GZ “984 *panujyuvoo—"FVENNG ‘SHVUO THAMO—'A AIAVL re A => «© ™ re SS Le) oe Oo Oo & = — Lor) ao Ome e _ 8681 83 “UUs (2) 3-9L g 3 6ST T g CT 8 \(T)e oS € \(€) 6-F1L py (te 9-FT G \(F)9 SFT IL |(1) ¢ $1 z I 9-E1 L \(1) $81 9 g gI aa es L-Z1 Ges @3L a © <= eo) Sees a) See 4a rc ri ol} 9 ae b P “Up _ L681 02 “0d "AZIG *soyouy Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report 134 SSS aa le ad a | “sqeai) azoe{ kc il SS gee A a Fr | pun pen || ues | OSH \ ) 88% |. 688 | 76 | SF | 99.| SL | G8 |. Tel] FIT] GL |- 99T | 66L| 12a] OF | ZEL| SPI |-O9T |- SOL | 98T | -86 c : - ‘le - - - - - - - - - - : : : : ‘ 1-61 é : : . 5 : : : : : : : : : : ; : : ‘ : : F-6L £ 5 = fea ; Dis 5 : : 3 ails : : : ; ; : 61 t 1 sla : * ; 2 : ; : : : : : ; ; Gala. : : : LST iu : 3 ibe. : : ; I | OR ; Boi. 3 : Gi 3 : ; : : PST is I - I - - - I - - - - - : - : : : if = if L-81 i San ee a lines I Sead : g Ete (las Degas : 5 ; T |) 8-21 t ; ce alt I Dihies 3 all : : : : T T (1) Se is Lave G21 z Pe Tks if (ie ia z t GP tyes : es | Cele it if Ghali I if LT e .b |(z)¢ Silas Testes : iz le : I te ltede I @ \(ie j Oe es : 8-91 q 8 \(e)6 € ee Cale 8 I I I re i! 7 g I y | - (ae (1) ¢-91 ¥9 } Be 65 OF 6 || Se) PS ‘eee aire) I) oN BANS (2) 6) 2 uO BoneUE ate | Bathe | SBM | BM | PRE | Be BL | Me | ha “= ‘ponujuoo— TVENOG ‘SAVIO THHYO—"A TIAVL ee 2 ee he of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 135 TABLE VI. WADDINGTON’S SERIES OF Cancer pagurus. 6S | So so | So No. Date. 3 E 3 2 : 2 No. Date. 3 g g : : zB we es esl Boe 9) Peet he A 2 B 1| 4 Aug., 1899,- | 3°25 9-25 2a) Loy ess yy =| ASD) be 1 | 80 April, 1900,- | 13 1/3°4 3| 7Sept., ,, -| 5°75) 1/4:7 De leeprAteyy 55) e=8|| Lorde) d/Or2) |Z AD Gr Qetssa % 55, =7\) Sco 4 3 | 30-Oct., ,, - | 18°75) 1/47) 66 Dal) SeNovey 5), = LOson W327 4] 9 Feb., 1901,- | 20°75] 1/6°5| 102 G) | La Wee tesse = | 4s5e | 2:8 — ee 7 | 27 Jan., 1900, - | 19°5 | 1/2°9 € 2 Si) Setiprilia gs 24:5 | 1/3'9 1| 7 Sept., 1896,- | 12 9} 4June, ,, - | 80°75) 1/39 DPB) INO spp 4) AG 4 10 | 30Sept., ,, - | 36°5 i 3 | 20 Mar., 1897,- | 19 | 1/5°3} 115 11 | 19 Mar., 1901, - | 45°75 | 1/3°9 A 26eMays ie Fath a2 SiS OF a eORNOV=,8 a5. = || O0"0 t ES |) Pale reas wae leat) 4 87 ‘ Gule 4s Novew esa eal Of aR L/4e2i) 70 (|| cil abyre pg ce || ek NY tay The Migrations of Crabs. TABLE VII —ADDITIONS TO THE LISTS OF LABELLED CRABS RECAPTURED. Ser FREE. ~ RECAPTURED. PP ve Piedes) Place (B 5 3; | Dist g _ ace . ace (5). oa os istance 2 ae ae att bet A A ae Sree ahd % 25 Date. Date. : ge | S93) 8 £ Bearing | Sex. ae ‘ - oS £ BO |e & of Place | He Distance and Distanceand | 34 | 8s | 9o/#8 (B) from = Bearing from Bearing from Be Sa|se| 3s Place (A) 2 Dunbar. Dunbar. Q S) Dav 6m Pi wa Ss) ays| Oo 1072 | Oct. 24, 1899. | Mouth of Har- May 12, 1900. | 3}m. N.W. gs | Ss. | 200] H. | 34m. N.W. ie | 22 bour. _ | igpeen 8 » 14, ,, |1}m. N.W. g | s. | 202] H. | 1jm. N.w. 53 | o 894 | Sep. 23, ,, 1 anes 59 et a are gs | s. | 233] H. | 7m. 8.S.E. az | oO 943 ae es - 3 » 15, ,, |3im.N.N.W.| 8 | 8. | 234] H. |3Im.NNw. | 54 | CO | | ee Nitin, » 21, ,, |4m.N.w.byN.| 10 | s. | 240] H. |4m.N.wobyn.| 54 | 2 1121 | Oct. 26, 5, | 14m. E. byN. oy oe As 4m. E. 7 SS) VAlre | Melee |p brrcish\ Wie 1159 | Nov. 4, ,, Mouth of Har- si tae IER ee 7 | s. | 208| H. |4m.E our. 999 | Sept. 25, ,, | 24m. E. by N. June 4, ,, |NearCove,7m.| 11 Ss 252 | H. | 7m. S.S.E. from Dunbar. 963 a Mee ” a July 12, ,, | 14m. N.W. 6) aS 290 | H. | 3m. W. 43 | 6 1100 | Oct.26, ,, | 14m. E. by N. A AL cy, «| aeeaaC RAE 7 s 268 |} H. | 2m. W. 1147 | Nov. 4, __,, Mouth of Har- aye eae sy a = 7 SS) 259 | H. | 1m. N.W. our. 1119 | Oct. 26, ,, | 14m.E.byN.| 17 | Oct. 20, 1902. |14m.off D’nb’r} 15 S. |3yrs.| H. 64 3 .B.—The following contractions are used in the above Table, viz. :—‘‘m,” mile ; ‘‘yrs. ” years; ‘‘S.,’ Soft ; “‘H.,’ Hard. 156 Part I1T,—Twenty-second Annual Report A number of labelled crabs which were received after the publication of the previous paper are recorded in Table VII. One of these crabs (the last in the Table), which is a male measuring 64 inches across, is especially interesting. It was recaptured after an interval of three years very near the place where it was set free. When liberated it was a soft crab, and it had not cast its shell during its period of freedom. The abstention of the large crabs from casting has been exemplified by a number of instances, but the time of abstention has only been determined by secondary proofs. For example, acrabis captured with an oyster attached to its back. Since the age of the oyster may be more or less accurately judged from its size, a part of the period that has elapsed since the ecdysis has been determined. Thus Buckland recorded two crabs which had on their backs three-year-old oysters: they could not have cast for three years. Another, now in the Ipswich Museum, is said to have a four-year-old oyster on its back. The present case gives a definite abstention for three years at the time of capture. At the beginning of 1903 it had not cast, and would not probably cast then till the summer. This would make the abstention from casting four years. There, of course, comes a stage when the crab ceases altogether from casting. Meek gives* a list of the labelled crabs set free on the coast of Northumberland and which have been recaptured at various times during 1902 and 1903. One of these is of special interest. Set free in October it was captured in the following July at Portlethen (near Aberdeen), a point about 80 miles to the north of the place of liberation. The Changes in the Carapace of Cancer pagurus. Cunningham in his paper on the early post-larval stages of this Crustacean drew attention to the great difference between the early and the adult form of the carapace. In the adult the carapace is broadly oval in shape, and is crenate at the edge. In the very young crab the edge is toothed. In his opinion the general resemblance of the carapace, in this stage, to that of Atelecyclus heterodon, along with certain other points of similarity, indicated a closer affinity between the two species than had previously been recognised. I have had the opportunity of examining one of the series of casts belonging to Mr. Waddington (A, Table VI.). They are, with the excep- tion of the first, shown in natural size in figs. 71-81. The changes which take place in the shell are well seen. In fig. 103 an enlarged drawing of the second of the series is shown; it measures 4°75 mm. across the broadest part of the back. The carapace has five main lateral teeth, of which the first forms the hind edge of the orbit, while the fourth projects laterally farther than the others. The main teeth are all serrated ; between each two a secondary tooth is found. The rostrum consists of three dentate lobes, The edge of the orbit is serrated ; and on the surface of the carapace and on the limbs there are numerous small teeth. In the next stage (fig. 102)—5:75 mm. in greatest breadth—a very considerable advance on the preceding is noticed. The secondary teeth have increased in proportional size, and with the main teeth are now more lobate or rounded. All of the lateral edge and the margin of the orbit is minutely dentate. On the rostrum the three lobes show merely a minutely notched anterior edge—the serrations being rounded, not tooth- like. The chela is furnished with tooth-like tubercles. * Meek, ‘‘The Migrations of Crabs.”—Northumberland Sea-Fisheries Committee. Report on the Scientific Investigations for the year 1903. Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1904. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 137 Fig. 101 shows the stage immediately following, viz., 8°5 mm. The lateral teeth of the carapace are now lobes having minutely notched edges; the secondary lobes are almost as large as the primary. The margin of the orbit and rostrum is minutely notched. The tubercles on the chela are rounded. In the succeeding stage, 10°75 mm. (fig. 98), a condition closely ap- proaching the adult is to be noted. The notched edge of the lateral lobes of the orbit and rostrum is still more prominent than in the adult. The tuberculated chela is very noticeable. A distinction in size between the primary and secondary lobes is still to be seen. The edge of the carapace shows a triple row of tubercles. The dorsum also is tuberculated. The sixth cast, 14-5 mm. (fig. 76), is represented in figs. 99 and 97, the former showing the frontal region. The lobes of the edge of the cara- pace are on the whole very similar to the adult condition. The chela is still tuberculated, and the triple row of tubercles which has succeeded the notches is very prominent. In the cast shell shown in fig. 77 (19°5 mm. across) the tubercles are prominent but smaller. They are further reduced in the next stage, viz., 24°5 mm. (fig. 78), and in that immediately following, viz., 30 mm. (fig. 79), the tubercles are practically reduced to the condition in the adult. Fig. 81, the last of the series, was not made from the actual specimen, but is a drawing of a crab of the same size. LITERATURE. Braun.—* Zur Kenntniss des Vorkommens der Speichel— u. Kittdriisen bei den Decapoden.” Arbeit a. d. Zool. Instit. in Wiirzburg, iii. Bd., pp. 121-166, Taf. viii.-ix., 1875. Broccut.—‘‘ Recherches sur les organes génitaux males des Crustacés décapodes.” Annales des Sciences naturelles, Zoologie et Paléontologie, t. ii., 1875. Cano.—‘‘ Morfologia dell’ apparecchio sessuale femminile, glandole del cemento e fecondazione nei Crostacei Decapodi.” Mittheil. u. d. Zool. Stat. z. Neapel, ix Bd., 4 Hft., 1890, pp. 503-532, 1 tav. Curnor.—* Etudes physiologiques sur les Crustacés décapodes.” Archives de Biologie, t. xii1., 1895. CunNINGHAM.-—‘‘ On the Early Post larval Stages of the Common Crab (Cancer pagurus), and on the Affinity of that Species with Atelecyclus heterodon.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, March 15, 1898. Duverernoy.—‘‘ Fragments sur les organes de génération de divers animaux.” Mémoires del’ Académie des Sciences del? Institut de France, t. xxiii., Paris, 1853, p. 105, pl. i.-ix. GROBBEN.—‘‘ Beitrige zur Kenntniss der miinnlichen Geschlechts-organe der Dekapoden.” Arbeit a. d. Zool. Instit. d. Universitdt, Wien, 1 Bd., pp. 1-94, Taf. i.-vi., 1878. Heratu.—‘‘ The Breeding Habits of Cancer magister.” American Naturalist, Xxxvi., pp. 501, 502, 1902. Herrick.—‘‘ The American Lobster: A Study of its Habits and Development.” Bulletin, U.S. Fish Commission, for 1895, LEREBOULLET. —‘‘ Recherches sur le mode de fixation des ceufs aux fausses pattes abdominales dans les écrevisses.” Annales des Sciences naturelles, sér. 4e (Zoologie), t. xiv., 1860, p. 359. ——— ‘‘De la maniére dont les Ciufs des Eicreviases sattachent aux fausses pattes abdominales.”-—L’ Institut, t. xxi., No. 998, p. 64. 1853. M‘Inrosu.—‘‘ On the Hairs of Carcinus menas.” Trans. Linnean Society, vol. XXiv. Mayer, P.—‘‘Sur Entwicklungsgeschichte der Dekapoden.” —- Jeoa. Zeit Naturw., 11 Bd., 1877. 138 Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report MeErk.—Various Papers on the Crab in the Reports of the Northumberland Sea- Fisheries Committee—1898-1903. RatHKE.—‘“‘ Untersuchungen ueber die Bildung u. Entwickelung der Flusskrebses,” folio, Leipzig, 1829. SABATIER. —‘‘ De la Spermatogenése chez les Crustacés décapodes.” Travaux de Institut de Zoologie de Montpellier et de la Station maritime de Cette (Sabatier et Rouzaud), nouvelle série, mémoire No. 3, Montpellier, 1893. Scorr.—‘‘ On the Spawning of the Common Lobster.” Report of the Lancashire Sea-Fisheries Laboratory for 1902, No. xi., Liverpool, 1903, p. 20. TULLBERG.—‘‘ Studien iiber den Bau u. das Wachsthum des Hummerspanzers u. des Molluskenschalen,” 12 taf. Kql. Veternsk. Akad. Handl., 19 Bd. Stock- holm, 1882. Virzou.—‘‘ Recherches sur la Structure et la Formation des Teguments chez les Crustacés décapodes.” Archives de Zoologie Hxpérimentale et Générale, t. X., Paris, 1882. WiLLIAmMson.—‘‘ Contributions to the Life-History of the Edible Crab (Cancer pagurus).” Highteenth Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland, Pt. III., 1900. , -—— ‘On the Larval and Early Young Stages, and Rate of Growth, of Carcinus menas.” Twenty-first Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland, Pt. III., 1903. Witson.—Northumberland Sea-Fisheries Committee. Reports on the Crab Fishery, 1893 and 1895. Newcastle-on-Tyne. WirtrEn.-—‘‘ On the Structural Changes accompanying the Ecdysis of the Crab.” Northumberland Sea Fisheries Committee. Report on the Scientific Investiga- tions for the year 1902, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1903, p. 53. —— ‘On the Structural Changes accompanying the Ecdysis of the Crab‘ Cancer pagurus.” Northumberland Sea-Fisheries Committee. Report on the Scientific Investigations for the year 1903. Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1904, p. 42. LETTERS USED. A.—antenna. mu.—muscle. a.—basal bone. o.ch.—outer chevron (lst abdom. seg.). ab. —abdomen. o./.—outer layer. an.—anus. lp.-2p.—first and second penes. ant. —antennule. p.—p.—plane of movement of distal ar,—arm of second penis. parts of endopodite of right side. b.—basal bone. p .—p'.—plane of movement of distal c.—core. —czcum, fig. 38. parts of endopodite of left side. car, —carapace. p.f.—perivitelline fluid. chr.—chorion. r.—rod. dis.—egg with distended chorion. sl.—solid in spermatheca. €.— eye. s.e.—secondary envelope. en. —endopodite. sp.—sperms. ex.—exopodite, sp.w.—wall of spermatheca. J.-—follicle. th.—thorax. g-p.—genital papilla. v.—valve, vulva. 2.ch.—inner chevron (lst abdom. seg.). v.d.—vas deferens. 2./.-—inner layer. v.m.—vitelline membrane. j-—joint. v.w.—wall of vagina, m.—membrane. yk.—yolk. EXPLANATION OF PLATES. Pirate II. All the drawings are of Cancer pagurus, with the exception of Figs. 27, 28, and 29, which are of Munida rugosa. Figures 1, 3, 5, 11, 12, 18, 21, 23), 24, 34, 35, and 36 were outlined by aid of the camera lucida. Fig. 1. Eggsimpaled by hair of endopodite. November 30, 1900, =) ORO Fig. 2. Lobule of ovary, showing a few distended eggs, dis. magnified, x 57 Fig. 3. Eggs in later stage of attachment than Fig. 1. Fig. 4. Transverse section of first penis near base, magnified. ——— ee eee Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 5. Section of a ripe egg (in ovary). . 5a. Envelopes of egg, . : : : : AK 6. Hair of endopodite, magnified. 7. Part of long hair of exopodite, magnified. 8. Part of short hair of exopodite, magnified. 9. Ocular section of hair of exopodite, magnified. ig. 10. Transverse section of first penis at the ase, magnified. 11. Hair of exopodite, . < : : : : mS . 12. Hair of exopodite, . 2 : x ig. 13. Abdomen, showing relation of the swimmerets. . 14. Side view of the abdomen, showing the overlapping of the exopodites. . 15. Abdomen. . 16. Transverse section of median part of first penis, magnified. ig. 17. Ocular section of hair of exopodite, near its base. . 18a. Longitudinal section of an egg which had been attached toa hair of the endopodite. January 11, 1901, ‘ é be . 18b. Section of envelopes of 18a. : ig. 19. Shows the eggs retained in the ‘‘ incubatory chamber,” formed by the abdomen. . 20a. Third swimmeret, left side, posterior surface. . 20b. Third swimmeret, left side, anterior surface. . 21. Group of eggs attached toahair. January 11,1901, . oe 22. Tip of hair of endopodite, magnified. . 23a &b. Tip of hair of endopodite, magnified. . 24. Tip of hair of endopodite, oc. 2, obj. 2 mm. O.I. ig. 25. Transverse section of the first penis, close to tip, magnified. . 26. Group of hairs of endopodite bearing eggs, magnified. ig. 27. Tip of hair of endopodite of Munida rugosa, magnified. . 28. Ege of Munida rugosa, attached to hairs of endopodite, x . 29. Attachment of egg-stalk to hairs of endopodite (Munida ru gosa), magnified. . 30. Ocular section of the base of hair of endopodite, magnified. . 31. Tip of hair of endopodite, magnified. . 32. Ocular section of hair of endopodite, magnified. . 33. Tip of hair of endopodite, magnified. . 34, Section of dropsical ovarian egg with lar ge perivitelline space. . 35. Hair of exopodite, . : ; ; : 5 & . 36. Hair of exopodite, . : : : ‘ 5 Bano. Puate III. The drawings, except where otherwise stated, belong to Cancer pagurus. Figures 56, 57, 58, and 64 were outlined by means of the camera lucida. . 37. First penis, posterior view. . 388. Longitudinal section of mouth of the spermatheca of a hard crab, 613 inches, showing three-layered wall of vagina and spermatheca. g. 39. Fourth and fifth pereiopods, with genital papilla on coxopodite of the latter : fifth pereiopod posterior in position. - 41. Fourth and_ fifth pereiopods, with genital papilla: fifth pereiopod anterior in position. . 42. Outer surface of tip of exopodite of third swimmeret, left side, magnified. . 43. Slonghed- off outer skin of hair, with empty egg-capsules Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. attached, magnified. 44, Abdomen, with first and second penes in one position. 45. Abdomen, with first and second penes in second position. 46. Muscles of second penis, magnified. 47. Genital papilla, magnified. 48. Muscles of first penis, magnified. 139 19 i) 57 19 19 19 49. Spermatheca of soft crab, 6 inches across. December Ist, 1899. jl. Plug. 50. Tip of endopodite, inner surface, magnified. 51. Tip of exopodite, inner surface, magnified. 52. Muscles of abdomen, view from median line. 53. Second penis, anterior view. 54. Second penis, posterior view. 55. Diagram of relation of penis to the spermatheca and the plug. jl. Fluid. Fig. 55a. Coxopodite of fifth pereiopod, showing the perforation for the issue of the vas deferens. 140 Part I1T.—Twenty-second Annual Report Fig. 56. Egg of Homarus vulgaris, showing three attachments, . Fig. 57. Egg of Homarus vulgaris, showing three attachments. Fig. 58. Tip of hair of endopodite of Homarus vulgaris. Fig. 59. Dissection of first penis, magnified. Fig. 60. Longitudinal section of first penis, semi-diagrammatic, to show the relationship of first and second penes and the genital papilla, magnified. Fig. 61. Longitudinal section of second penis, to show muscles seen from median line. Fig. 62. Tip of endopodite, posterior surface, magnified. The hairs ought in proportion to be larger (viz., about one-third longer) than they are here represented. Fig. 63. Plan of a row of hairs of endopodite, magnified. Fig. 64. Hair of endopodite of Nephrops norvegicus, : Fig. 65. First and second penes, lateral (external) view. Fig. 66. Muscles of second penis. Fig. 67. Spermatheca of hard crab, 68 inches. December Ist, 1899. Fig. 68. Second penis, lateral (external) view. Fig. 69. First penis, lateral (external) view, shows relationship of genital papilla. Fig. 70. External (attached) egg of Carcinus manas. December 21st, 1897. Pratt IV. Figs. 94, 95, and 96 were outlined by means of the camera lucida. Vigs. 71-81. Successive casts of a Cancer pagurus, Nos. 2-12 inclusive, viz., A, Table VI. Natural size. Figs. 82-93. Successive casts of a Carcinus menas, viz., No. 1 in Table I. in ‘On the Larval and Early Young Stages, and. Rate of Growth, of Carcinus menas.” Twenty-first Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland, Pt. III., p. 166. Fig. 94. Egg of Cancer pagurus taken from the vagina of a spawning female by means of a pipette, 30/11/00, : : Fig. 95. Egg just extruded,. : : : : : : Fig. 96. Egg found on bottom of tank beside a spawning Cancer pagurus, PLATE V. x X 10 48 The figures in this plate, with the exception of Fig. 100, were outlined by means of the camera lucida. Vig. 97. Edge of carapace of the cast represented in Fig. 75, . : Fig. 98. Half of carapace do. do. 74, Fig. 99. Frontal region do. do. 795, Fig. 100. Cast chela of a Cancer pagurus to show the absorption lines (abs.) on [the coxopodite, basi-ischiopodite, and meropodite joints. Natural size. Fig. 101. Half of carapace of the cast represented in Fig. 72, . Fig. 102. Do. do. do. IE Rop ee 3 Fig. 103. Enlarged drawing of cast shell represented in Fig. 71, carapace, Fig. 104. Joint on second penis, Cancer pagurus. Fig. 105. Tip of second penis, do. x x 19 19 19 19 19 19 N.B.—The “arrows” which accompany certain of the figures serve to indicate the antero-posterior median line; the point of the arrow is directed anteriorly. PLATE Il. i 7 2 : : $ PLATE Ill. Cancer pagurus—Castixo, IMPREGNATION, mh 7. B REPORT. 1904 PLATE V pd — . oS > s = ~3 ~~ ee a aes Pa xs ~ py ee © H.C.W. Fig 100 A H. Wareze. Cancer pagurux—Casmina, Etc. of the Fishery Board for Scotland 141 IIl.—THE RATE OF GROWTH OF FISHES. By Dr. T. Wemyss Fuuron, F.R.S.E., Superintendent of Scientific Investigations. (Plates VI.-XIT.) ConTENTs. PAGE. 1. Introductory, “ ; , 141 2. The Relation of Length to Weight, ; : ; 142 3. The Average Size at Maturity, ° : ‘ 150 4. The Influence of Temperature on Grow th, | : : 159 5. The Sprat, . : : : . : : 171 6. The Witch, . : 5 : . 5 f 186 7. The Norway Pout, . - . . : 195 8. The Sharp-tailed Lumpenus, ‘ 202 9. Tables showing the Relation of Length to W eight, : 205 1. IyrRopuctTIOoN. The present paper contains the results of further observations I have made on the rate of growth of fishes, and is a continuation of the investi- gation on this subject as dealt with in some of the preceding Reports of the Fishery Board. In that for 1901 I described fully the methods adopted,* the collections being obtained by the use of a fine-meshed net around the cod-end of the otter trawl, on the occasions when steam- trawlers were employed in the trawling investigations in the Moray Firth and Aberdeen Bay. It need only be mentioned here that the fishes are measured in millimetres, the measurements tabulated, and curves formed on the measurements as grouped into lcm. or ‘Sem. groups. It may be stated that the method of collection with a small- meshed net in the way described has now been adopted in some other countries as well as on- the ‘‘Goldseeker,” the vessel employed in the Scottish part of the international investigations of the North Sea. In addition to the measurements of numerous fishes, only part of which are worked up in this paper, viz. those dealing with the sprat, the witch, the Norway pout, and the sharp-tailed Lwmpenus, observations were also made on a large scale with the view of determining the relation between the weight and the length of a considerable number of species, and these are detailed below. I have found that the law which governs the relation between the weight and dimensions of similarly-shaped bodies does not apply with precision to fishes. They increase in weight more than the increase in length would, according to the law, imply, and since the number of fishes in which the relation between the length and weight has been determined was large, viz. 5675, belonging to nineteen species, and in no case has the law been found to apply exactly, it appears to be well-established that on the assumption that the specific gravity of the fishes does not change during growth they must increase in some other of their dimensions, whether breadth or thickness, in greater proportion than they increase in length. * Twentieth Ann. Rep,, Pt. III, p. 326. 142 Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report I have likewise carried on a number of experiments in order to ascertain the relation which exists between the growth of fishes and the temperature of the water in which they live. It is well known from previous observa- tions that in the winter season the growth of fishes, at least in the inshore waters, is slower than it is in summer; in the case of those living in shallow water, subjected to the changes in the temperature of the air, and where the extremes of heat and cold are at their maximum, growth may be entirely arrested in winter. In the Annual Report of the Board above referred to I gave particulars on this point with regard to the young plaice living on the beaches, and exhibited a curve in which the relation between the temperature of the water and the degree of growth of the plaice was established. The experiments, which are described in detail below, consisted in keeping fishes of various species in tauks in which the water was arti- ficially heated, and the result on the growth of the fish was very marked, those in the water of a high temperature growing much faster than those in the water at lower temperature. It was, moreover, shown, as might have been anticipated, that the fishes in the warmer water ate much more food than those in the colder water, the digestive ferments being more active at the higher temperatures, and the fish being thus able to digest a larger quantity of food in a given time. It was found that the appetite of the fishes was in relation to the power of digestion, that is to the temperature of the water, those in very cold water scarcely eating at all, although abundantly supplied with food. In the same way, the metabolism in the tissues was more rapid, and nutrition and growth much accelerated. Certain differences were found to exist in different species, which are referred to below. 2. THe RELATION oF LENGTH TO WEIGHT. In dealing with the rate of growth of fishes it is customary to take one of the dimensions of the fish and compare the variations of this dimension at different periods or in different collections. In some cases, as with the rays, it is more convenient to take the breadth across the pectorals than the length. The selection of one dimension for com- parative measurement is very convenient, and it is accurate on the assumption that the fish grows equally in all directions, increasing in breadth and thickness in the same ratio as it does in length, It is obvious, however, that the true criterion of growth is the increase in the mass of the fish, and this can be determined either by the variation in the volume or in the weight. The determination of the variation in volume is a somewhat slow process, and the methods are subject to difficulties in practice. With small fishes a burette may be used with accurate results; with those of large size the quantity of water displaced by the fish was measured separately in a burette, the fish itself being placed in a convenient vessel. In the case of fishes of moderate dimensions the method used was to place them in a vessel provided with a syphon to draw off the amount of water displaced, which was then measured in a burette; the bore of the syphon being so adapted as to always remain full of fluid. As a rule this mode of determining the increase in bulk was found to be less satisfactory than the method of weighing the fish, and this was the method chiefly employed. According to the well-known law, that the volume of similarly-shaped bodies of the same specific gravity vary directly as the cube of corre- of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 145 sponding dimensions—a law which was brought prominently forward by Herbert Spencer in his ‘‘ Principles of Biology ”—a fish which has doubled its length should have increased its weight eight times. This law is a very convenient one in considermg the rate of growth of fishes, all that is required, if the law holds true throughout, being to determine the relation between the weight and one of the dimensions at a particular size and then calculate the ratio between that dimension and the weight at different sizes. The truth of the law has not, however, been proved experimentally in the case of fishes, as far as I am aware, and it was decided to actually measure and weigh a large number of fishes of different sizes, and to construct curves in order to bring out the relation between the length and the weight at different sizes. In the Twentieth Annual Report of the Fishery Board* I described the method of presentation I had adopted, the abscissee in the diagrams representing length and the ordinates weight; and I pointed out that the curves varied for different species, and that they did not everywhere agree with the rule as to similarly-shaped bodies above referred to. Since then many more fishes and observations have been added to my lists, and I propose to discuss some of the results now. In all cases, unless where otherwise stated, the observations have been made at different times of the year, and on fish from different localities. This method will give a better result as to the relations between length for the species generally, although it is probable that the ratio varies somewhat at different places and at certain times of the year-—at all events in fish which have reached adult size. This is referred to at greater length below. In the observations made on this subject each fish was individually measured in millimetres and then weighed in grammes, and the method adopted in presenting the results was to collect the records of weight to the nearest ‘5 centimetre, and take the mean of the lot. Thus the number of observations under each ‘5cm. are often unequal in amount ; but it was found, on testing the method, that this system gave practically the same result as when the calculations were made for the observations under each millimetre measurement—a very laborious process. The mean weight under a given ‘Sem, was then tabulated, as well as the number of fishes at that size and the greatest and lowest weight among them, and this information for the various fishes dealt with is given in a series of tables appended (p. 205), while the average weight is represented in the series of diagrams (Pls. VI, VII). In constructing these curves the average weight of the fishes at a particular length was not itself taken, the series of averages being arithmetically smoothed, by taking the mean of the averages immediately before and after; as a rule only the one preceding and the one following was combined with the average being smoothed, but in some cases where the number of observations was small a number of the preceding and _ succeeding averages were combined also and the mean taken. The fishes in which the relation between the length and weight at different sizes were determined were the following :—Plaice, common dab, lemon dab, long rough dab, witch, brill, cod, haddock, whiting, herring, sprat, Norway pout, and partly also the turbot, little sole, gurnard, halibut, flounder, armed bullhead, and Lumpenus. It will be seen from the tables and the curves of these fishes how very greatly the weight for a given length differs in different species, and thus how very different is the increment of growth for a given increase in the length. Among the food-fishes examined by far the heaviest in proportion * Page 334, 1902. 144 Part ITI —Twenty-second Annual Report to its length is the turbot, and after it comes the brill; at the opposite extreme is the witch, which is the lightest of all :— a =| cH 2 3 ad “ Gees) fog Wg) Bg ae) seedy we aldah tal ee (egies aes ER Poeus We S| SSH He altel a Wesel des ei/e] es | & sie PRs es ile Pd cle tds fash De Posse? | 22 Be OPM PY OVE ear Baials OT Pitkea be es Gia 67 |. |. |. | 96] a7]. | 2 | Brlaos! 7-93) 7-81 alone 1 | . | . | 323 34 | 281] 31:3] 141] 21-6] . | 80-7] 28:3] 23:8 29-4) . 2 | . | . | 893 71] 747] 78 | a5-4]5e5] . | 711] 65-7] 54-2] 557 so | . | . | . | 2901 |2964| 279 |170-4] . | . | 271-8 | 243°8 |213-6/219°5| 35 | 922| 622] 561 | 484-6470 | 440 log35| . | - | 420 |3a1 |322 ao | . | 978| 798 | 708 | . | 93 |458 | .| . | 614 |502 518 45 | 2,000| 1,373 |1,076 |1,028 | . | . |ev7 | .| «| 907 | g28 BO. (|:2,706 | 2.1451? [tdee AON Seals Bei Reelin Ail aineg 60 al5;000 || tel) ny Ne age albee TR Tn CMa RSE Me: Ob7 Out 8/680)! 0 acl ie VOOR fe Hae Vee ole el te opel oR BOIMNE Agua aceite le lh melita ncal sete poredd 100 . . . | . . . . . « {10,194 | Among the other flat-fishes the lemon sole comes after the brill, then the plaice, common dab, flounder, and long rough dab, but several of them are very close together. Among the round-fishes the cod is the heaviest in proportion to its length, with the haddock next, and then the whiting, The sprat is, in proportion to its length, heavier than the herring, which shows much the same ratio as the long rough dab. It is noteworthy that the extremes in regard to the length-weight ratio should be exhibited among the flat-fishes. It will also be noticed that the variation in weight at a given size in the same species increases very much as the fish grows in length, so that at the larger sizes, of the cod or turbot for example, the variation in this respect is most pronounced. For this reason the terminal parts of the curves are less satisfactory than the lower parts, as may be seen in the diagrams, and it would probably require a very extensive series of observations on these larger forms to give the relation between the length and the weight with high precision. Nevertheless, I think the curves given will be found useful in dealing with many questions connected with the fisheries. The number of the various species which have been measured and weighed for the purpose of this research are as follows :— Cod, - - - 471 Little sole, - - 54 Haddock, : . 844 Turbot, - - - 29 Whiting, - . 507 Brill, . - - 100 Norway pout, - - 218 Flounder, - - - 48 Plaice, - - - 913 Halibut, - - - 38 Lemon dab, - - 165 Herring, - - - 482 Common dab, - - 541 Sprat, - . - 339 Long rough dab, . 335 Gurnard, - - 63 Witch, - - 426 Armed pullvont: . 59 Lumpenus, - - 43 —the total being 5675 fishes. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 145 An examination of the tables and curves shows that the law in regard to the increase in weight according to the cube of the length, although broadly true, does not accurately apply in the case of the fishes examined. With scarcely an exception, the weight at a given length is greater than the weight calculated from the law, so that if the speci‘e gravity of the fishes remains constant they must increase somewhat more in other dimensions than in length. In the case of the haddock, the plaice, and the sprat, I have calculated out the weights at the various sizes on the assumption that the law referred to held true during the growth of the fish, and these are given in the Table on pages 240, 241. It will be seen, by comparing them with the weights actually observed, that the latter exceed the former in all cases as stated. The datum for the calculation in each instance was the smoothed average for the smallest sizes of which the relative numbers were large. The salient features in this comparison may be given here as follows, the weights being in grammes :— PLAICE. HADDOCK, Cm, | Observed Weight. |Calculated Weight.] Observed Weight. |Calenlated Weight. if — 009 — 008 3 — 252 — 213 5 Vets 1:167 — 984 8 4°78 4:78 — 4:03 10 9°62 9°34 7°8 7°87 15 34 31°51 28°3 26°56 20 77°10 74:70 65:7 62:97 25 161 145-90 140°2 | 122°97 30 299-10 252°10 243°3 212°50 35 484°6 406°45 381 337 °44 40 707°9 597°50 591°6 503°73 45 1,026 850°84 828-2 717°19 50 1,429 1,167°20 bly 983-80 55 1,820 1,553°44 [1,440] 1,309°47 60 2,371 2,016°79 [1,915] 1,700 65 [3,331] 2,564°17 [3,214] 2,162°14 70 [3,908] 3, 251°59 — 2,699°52 The figures in brackets represent individual fishes at or very near the dimension stated. The comparison in the case of the sprat was as follows :— Centimetres, Observed Weight. Calculated Weight. 1 — 005 2 — 043 3 —_ 149 4 — 343 5 67 ‘670 6 1d Bg 1°190 7 2°02 1838 8 3°05 2°744 9 4°63 4-015 10 6°71 5°36 11 9°48 C13 12 12°46 9°52 125 14°34 = 13 [16-4] 11-78 14 — 14°71 146 Part IlT.—Twenty-second Annual Report A simple method of determining the relationship, without calculating out the ratio at all lengths, is to compare the weights at twice the size ; according to the law the weight should be eight times greater. This has been done in all the possible cases throughout the tables, and, with a few exceptions in individual instances where the numbers were us uallysmall, it has been found that the weight at twice the size is greater, and some- times very considerably greater, than the law implies. Thus, among plaice of which a large number were weighed (913) there is no exception to the statement made, from 45cm. on to 35-70cm. In all cases the weight calculated in this manner is less than the weight actually observed, and the excess over what is required by the law is in some cases considerable. The following examples may be given :— Observed Weight WEIGHT IN GRAMMES. Cm. (Smoothed). Cray = ee ee eee Excess, Ss, rare Calculated. Observed. 5 ely) 10 9°36 9°62 "26 8 4°78 16 38°24 41 2°78 10 9°62 20 76°96 77°10 14 12 17°35 24 138°8 140°6 18 15 3B4 30 272 299-1 (pl 18 57°79 36 4622 52 64°8 20 TE 40 616°8 707°9 91°1 22 112°8 44 902:4 954 51°6 U5 161 50 1,288 1,404 116 27 207 54 1,656 1,802 146 30 209i 60 2,392°8 2,468 75:2 l Throughout the tables of measurements for haddocks also the weight thus calculated is always under the weight observed, except in a few cases among the largest fishes. Whether this is due to the fact that the number of the fishes at the larger sizes is too small to show the true relation, or the difference is a real difference with age, cannot at present be decided. I give the selected examples for haddocks in the accompany- ing Table, with all the cases where the calculated weight is greater than the observed weight :— Observed Weight WEIGHT IN GRAMMES. Cm. Cros Cm, |——____________________|_ Difference. Calculated. Observed. ae nis ares (ae | 10 7°93 20 60:4 65°7 +5'3 12 13°6 24 108°8 118°3 +9°5 15 28°3 30 226-4 243°3 +169 18 48:3 36 386°4 425°2 +388 | 20 65-7 40 535°6 591°6 +56-0 22 $1-4 44 731°6 777°6 +46 | 25 140-2 50 1,121°6 ea (al +494 | 26-5 165°6 53 1,324°8 1,379 454-4 28°5 205°5 57 1,645°0 1,635 —10 | 3 Pfalery 62 2,175°6 2,110 — 63°6 | 37 465°9 74 3,727 3,691 — 36 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 147 Among commou dabs the observed weights are always in excess also, with one exception, where the calculated weignt for a fisn of 12cm. is 14°80 and the weight observed was 14:7 grammes. The difference in the smaller forms here is not so great as in those of moderate size. At 6cm. the calculated weight was 1°36 grammes and the observed weight 1°85 ; at 10cm. the calculated weight was 7:76 and the actual weight 12°31; at 8cm. the calculated weight was 32°96 and the weight observed 34°3 grammes; at 20cm. the calculated weight was 69°76 and the actual weight 74:7; at 24cm. the calculated weight was 117-6 and the weight observed 142°3; at 30cm. the calculated weight was 224°8 and the actual weight 296-4; at 56cm. the calculated weight was 403°2 and the weight observed 487 grammes. It was the same with the lemon dab, no exception being found. The calculated weight at 15cm. was 26°8 and the real weight 32°3; at 3lem. the former was 2888 and the observed weight was 354 grammes ; at 36cm. the respective weights were 436°8 and 595 grammes, and at 40cm. they were respectively 714-4 and 788 grammes. With the Norway pout, the herring, the sprat, the long rough dab, the cod, the witch, and the whiting the same method shows the same general result, an excess of weight over that to be deduced froin the law. I append here some of the figures where this appears :— TABLE. 148 Part ITI.—Twenty-second Annual Report Cod Whiting. | witeh. [/OE Hough) Herring, | Sprat, LS 0c) (me mea A Oe RS feet toe NE Ee | |S TRE er | feeeee ne I I er en pee MEM RS ne cee ne ene ney, a ete 2) ek Dols ypels Gata o-64| Paige Sel eta | eng ee lee a) anes a pany ea Re Soa el try [oa 10: ee ae ee ee cere etsy Meee Mere une ee Less aon Tie = a a 7er6 | yeas eal ee coda (cee Toga see ao aanc} uaa, iB a bt9d [tog ob ues ai Oeeil ole = CBr sg Pg .g' | 20 | ates |e ott ce |e 14alpite® ehh Sear (TS. fl oe Oats eye MORE 16:6 halle Toa ees aon P33 |40-5 | 14] 18-b |) 21-6 eee | | eee lees ot i | e706 91 21:43) 97-21 13-8) Boe ale 17| 40 45-4] 34-4| 35-2] 12-8] 20 | 28-4] 324] 29 | 34a) — | — 18| 462] 54 | 40:8] 413] — | — |a1-2] 40-4] 342] 403) — | — 20/ 634] 711] 56-3| 542} — | — | 45-6] 585] 47-2] 551;— | — 24} 120 | 1934] 992/104] — | — |s4 |122 | s48l1061)— | — 95 | 188-4] 146:5|112-8/118 | 67-2| 861) —| — | 968|119-3]— | — Bg 1968 || “210-71 1544/1781), = |) | = |) Hae aye ee 30 | 2456] 271-8} 190-4 | 210-6 | 1126 | 170-4] — | — |187-2/2195;— | — Spalemeode'| S490 - 1805-61830 Mi |e as al kas pes d0'|, 5688] 614-3. 498-6 |5138 1983 (458 | = | — | = | == ee A WensO8n04. (O07 -p) Se Sh eek |) | ip eet A nee ee 48/985. |4,013. | 819 (984 "580 || 791 |) 8 a= een ee ee BOARD | DRO Sees) Sool See ae age I ee 65 | 1,588°7) 1,608} cl ee ee ee GO| B14. | ORF ee ee ee ee 70 | 8,860 | 3,380 _ = == = se = aa 76. \:3948> 14,000) — || 2) ee ee ee 441 7,888 hl 0,144 © |) ee ela | ee 100 | 9,192 180,194 | | a ee a ee ee 108110728 (12,089) | ee a Ee Among the exceptions to the statement that the rule does not apply the most common are to be found among the smail and young forms and in the whiting. In many cases the weight of the smallest individuals whose weight may be calculated by the method described is under the ratio prescribed by the law, or in conformity with it, and thus differs from what obtains among the larger individuals. It seems not improbable that the explanation of this circumstance is that, in their early stages, the fishes grow in length in a greater ratio than they grow in other dimensions. This is specially observable among the whitings, witches, and long rough dabs, although in the case of the two latter, at all events, of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 149 the tendency is markedly in the opposite direction later on. In many cases in the very largest fishes a few exceptions also occur, and this may be due to defective nutrition with age, or to the fact that the number of the fishes of large size examined was much less and not sufficient to bring out the true relationship. It is to be observed that the statement that the law does not accurately apply is supported by that part of the tables and curves where the observations are most numerous, and which, as a rule, includes those fishes which are in adolescence. Among cod the greatest number of exceptions were found to occur. The observed weight continued to be greater than that required by the law from 17cm. to 48cm., and then from that point to 69cm., with one or two exceptions, it was less. The number of specimens of the larger sizes was, however, comparatively small, and in the case of the cod many of these large specimens were weighed in May, after they had spawned. In most of the other cases it may be said, although spawning and spent fish are included, the number of these is small ; and the sudden loss of weight immediately after spawning is marked, although it appears to be rapidly regained. I am not at present able to offer any satisfactory explanation of the departure from the law of growth generally accepted in the case of fishes ; and perhaps it may be said that the application of this law in biology has not yet been experimentally tested ona sufficient scale among many species of animals. In the growth of some animals there is no doubt that the ratio between the dimensions does not continue constant, and that consequently alteration of shape occurs in the course of growth. In the case of fishes the relation between the length and the weight is in many, and probably most, instances modified in connection with reproduction to a considerable extent, and it may also be altered by the changes which take place in certain of the viscera, as, for example, in the liver, and by the general conditions of nutrition due to season and other circumstances. For obvious reasons, variations in the quantity of food which may be in the stomach or intestine may be neglected. It has to be noted, however, as already stated, that the fishes at periods before reproductive disturbances begin show a marked departure from the law, and that changes arising from difference of season affect fishes at different sizes. These tables and curves will also be of value in determining the average weight of specimens of different species belonging to different series or generations, and thus showing the increase of mass from one generation to another as well as the mean weight when the reproductive period is reached and the range of variation. An example may be here given from the plaice to show the amount of growth which may take place from one generation to another, and in the following Table I give the particulars as based on the measurements of over 1800 specimens in a haul in Aberdeen Bay in November : — LENGTH (Mm.). WEIGHT (GRAMMES). or Mean eries, I nerease. Range. Average. Range of Mean, Average. * i [35—85 65] 2°5 Il. 91—162 118-1 6°9—42 17 145 III. 164—260 216°5 44—181 106 89 LI\ fe 261—369 315 183—676 343 237 V: 363—442 400 620—970 708 365 Vik 444—479 460 990—1, 280 1,092 384 150 Part L1I.—Twenty-second Annual Repor From this it wiil be seen how very greatly the weight and therefore the amount of growth in different members of the same series may vary. The “range of the mean,” moreover, refers to the average weight for the longest and shortest fish in a series; the actual or possible variation in weight is much greater, as may be seen from the Tables for the plaice on p. 205. 3. THe AVERAGE Size at Marourirty. With regard to the size and age at which the males and females of the various species of food-fishes first attain maturity, a great deal of infor- mation is still required. Isolated observations have been made in a considerable number of instances on several species, sufficient to give an approximate idea of the limit between the mature and the immature, but, as a rule, they are not of such a kind as to enable the average-size as well as the extremes to be determined, and on the hypothesis that reproduction takes place at a certain age this average-size should correspond to the average for one or other of the yearly groups. In one or two cases I have made a number of observations on the subject, particularly with regard to the plaice, the haddock, and the whiting, a number of these fishes being examined at the spawning time, the sexes determined, the condition of the reproductive organs noted, and the size of the fish measured. A number were also examined at periods anterior to the spawning time and the progress of the development of the eggs observed. Thus, among twenty-four whitings caught in the Moray Firth on the 14th November, comprising sixteen females and eight males, it was found that the former ranged in size from 242 to 418mm., and in weight from 108 to 517 grammes; the weight of the ovary varying from 0°2 to 38 grammes, and the diameter of the eggs from ‘189 to ‘294mm. The following are selected examples :— A : Weight of Diameter of Length. NEN Organics Largest Eggs. Mra Gr. Gyr Mm. 242 108 0-4 189 248 110 1:0 Joill 293 196 E74 2.94 298 198 1:5 D2, 304 223 2-1 Jol ole 240 1:8 189 351 354 2°8 273 418 517 38:0 Soar (es) = The particulars in these examples show that the whitings, and probably even the smallest, would spawn at the next spawning season ; and it will be observed that the size of the eggs in some of the smaller specimens is as large as in those of considerably greater size. In the males the weight of the testes was also determined, and their weight did not always correspond with the weight of the fish, as the following examples indicate :— Length. Mm. 293 322 335 323 339 364 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. Weight. Weight of Testes. 151 a Swnmoro ond or-o.-° All these males would also in all probability spawn at the next season. On the 27th December some others, also taken in the Moray Firth, were examined, and the following shows the particulars in regard to some of the females :— Length. Mm. 175 227 254 260 231 Weight. Gr. 40 81 107°5 113 85 Weight of Ovaries. Diameter of Kggs. Mm. 063 "231 189 462 ‘210 In the males the testes were as small relatively as in those examined in November. Several other whitings of smaller size were examined, from 159 to 178mm., and in all cases the ovaries and testes were extremely small, and the eggs minute, the largest being about ‘06mm. On 28rd January another lot were examined, and it was found that both the weight of the ovary and the diameter of the largest egg had considerably increased, as shown by the following particulars of some of the females :— Length. Weight of Ovaries. Diameter of Eggs. 152 Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report All these females would obviously spawn in the ensuing season ; and it is noteworthy that some of the smaller fishes had the larger eggs. The weight of the testes in the male had also increased ; in specimens from 227-232mm. they weighed 0:7—0°9 grammes, and in some from 253-267mm. they weighed from 1°2 to 3°38 grammes. From these indications probably all would spawn in the course of the next season, - On the Ist April, that is after the spawning season had begun, some others were examined. Females of 182 and 198mm. had small ovaries and unyolked eggs which measured from 0:6 to O‘'8mm. Others at 225 and 227mm. (8% inches) had eggs measuring up to ‘672, and at 232 and 237mm, the ovaries contained ripe eggs. From the same collections 803 whitings were assorted into males and females, the condition of the reproductive organs being determined ; the particulars are contained in the following Table :— ‘ FEMALE. | MALE. Cm. Ripe. Spent. ee oa Ripe. Spent. |Immature. ee Bethe Siete weal: we ba oP eae 13 1 | ie 14 3 1 15 if a 16 4 6 17 4 We 4 18 1 1 3 19 i 2 1 20 1 1 16 2 21 G4 4 33 4 22 18 ~~ 58 2 23 33 3 cb 1 24 40 3 70 25 44 3 65 26 40 1 56 rat 38 1 28 28 27 21 29 13 9 30 13 8 31 10 3 a2 7 it 33 4 1 34 ] 5) 3 36 37 3 38 39 1 ee 40 Bd ae In addition to these observations made on board the trawlers employed in the Moray Firth, in which the collections included many whitings too small to be marketable, the opportunity was taken to examine the sexual condition of a number of whitings as brought to market. These do not include the very smallest which may be mature, but they serve for of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 153 comparison, and they show, moreover, the very small proportion of this fish which is brought to market in the immature condition. FEMALES. MALgEs. Cm. Ripe. | Spent. |[mmature] Ripe. | Spent. Immature. 23 os 3 24 1 1 25 1 6 26 3 3 27 28 14 28 45 16 29 43 19 30 50 16 31 29 16 1 32 23 18 | 33 29 “] 1 34 33 20 39 38 11 36 24 7 | 37 22 7 | 38 29 1 39 16 1 1 | 40 14 | 4] 12 1 42 3 43 8 44 + 45 1 46 2 From these observations it appears that the female whiting may attain maturity when it is 20cm., or about 8 inches, in length, but that the average size when reproduction first begins is approximately 25cm., or about 10 inches. This conclusion agrees with the previous observations made by me on the rate of growth of the whiting and the size and age at which maturity is reached. I stated in the Twentieth Annual Report* that the whiting when two years old had an average size of about 97 inches, the range being from about 72 inches to 12 inches, and that this was the generation which commenced to spawn. The tables given above show that some of the males may begin to spawn at a size less than that at which the females spawn, but the difference is not very great, and I am disposed to consider that the males also do not attain maturity till they are two years of age. A series of corresponding observations were made in regard to the haddock, which serve to throw light on the size and age when maturity is first reached. On the 31st October a number were taken in Aberdeen Bay, the sexes determined, and the condition of the reproductive organs ascertained. The following shows the main features among the females — * Part III., page 400. Size of Eggs. 154 Part I1I—Twenty-second Annual Report Length. Weight. en Mm. Gr. Gr. 245 EGS a 246 134 5 253 141 2, 276 182 “i 341 412 2:5 356 496 Dull 387 616 ONr 428 814 10-1 525 1,600 14:0 On 12th November another series of observations were made on haddocks taken in the Moray Firth, and similar observations on collections obtained in Aberdeen Bay on 24th December and 14th January, and in the Moray Firth on 21st January. The particulars in some of the cases are appended :— 5 Weight. | Diameter oe Metens, of rats of Eggs. Mm. Gr. Gr. Mm. November 12 308 392 aD “42 333 oilal Be 5) °357 315 312 2°9 399 317 347 3°9 378 3090 490 30 coil 415 782 78 378 528 1,345 3:5 378 December 24 307 265 4°2 48 329 366 61 “42 341 365 53 48 390 637 43°8 63 416 (a7 14:7 46 518 1,387 30°3 "52 January 14 272 178 0-4 12 501 224 26 ‘14 313 254 1:2 ‘16 325 318 1:4 34 326 340 6:5 “Dit 348 367 7:0 “44 381 467 2°2 14 383 583 21:5 250) 432 738 17°6 ‘48 January 23 169 38 eis ‘O4 2a 96°5 05 273 257 13155 0-7 “12 271 158 0:6 “31 235 99:5 0:9 36 223 90°5 0:3 ‘18 287 182 1-0 sole) | of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 155 Among those taken on 23rd January in the Moray Firth several at from 146 to 170mm. which were examined had the ovaries quite small and immature ; some of those of 257mm. and thereabout had only clear unyolked eggs measuring up to ‘lmm., while others of the same size, or even smaller, had eggs considerably larger, yolked, and would, no doubt, spawn before the close of the spawning season. This difference is, I think, to be explained by difference in age, the less matured individuals, although larger, being younger and belonging to a later generation. On the Ist April, among a number taken in the Moray Firth, quite ripe females were got measuring 254mm. (10 inches) and 258mm. and | weighing 134 and 141 grammes, or about 4# ounces; others almost mature measured 256 and 258mm., while some quite immature were found measuring 283mm., or more than 11 inches. On the 23rd April a few females of 263mm. were ripe, and males of 255mm. and upwards and females of 258, 273, 296mm. and upwards were spent. In the collection procured on Ist April a number of the ovaries wcre examined, with the following results :— Cm Spawning ct Spent. Immature. | nearly Ripe. | 16 1 ff 4 18 19 il 20 3 ai 10 | 22, 24 ps isi 30 24 8 py | 25 15 14 26 ial 4 TA 5 2 28 5 1 1 29 2 es 3 30 6 2 31 4 32 8 1 3a ff 1 34 1} 85 6 36 3 on 1 e 3 5 39 Wy 40 1 4] The collection was a small one, and the larger fishes were for the most part absent. It shows, however, that females as small as 24cm. may be ripe and some as large as 29cm. immature, the average size at first maturity in this case being approximately 30cm., or abont 12 inches, which is rather under the size brought out by some other observations, Out of a large number examined on a former occasion the smallest of the 156 Part IIT.—Twenty-second Annual Report females obtained was 12 inches, and the smallest nearly mature 10 inches ; and Holt from his observations at Grimsby placed the average limit between the mature and immature at 13 inches. Some observations were also made with regard to the size at which maturity is reached in the plaice by the examination of the fish as landed and also on board as brought to deck. In the latter case the examination was only towards the close of the spawning season, when most of the fishes were spent, and the information obtained in this way is therefore of more limited scope. On the llth and 16th February 259 were examined, of which 134 were females and 125 males. Among the former 50 were spawning, or had the ovaries so far developed that spawning could be said to be imminent. The largest immature female measured 440mm., the next largest being 436mm. The smallest female found to be actually spawning was 373mm., or about 14? inches, the next smallest being 382mm ; the smallest nearly ripe measured 360, 360, 368, and 378mm. The difference, therefore, between the largest immature and the smallest nearly mature was 80mm., or 3L inches. The numbers are not very large, but so far as they go they show that the average size when maturity is first attained is about 43 or 44cm., that is, approximately, 17 inches, the limit also found by Holt to apply to the plaice from the northerly part of the North Sea, and confirmed by Kyle.* With the males the largest immature specimens measured 370, 367, and 366mm., and the smallest spawning males measured 306, 318, and 330mm. ; the smallest nearly ripe was 317mm. and the next 322mm. The difference in this case between the smallest mature and the largest immature amounts to 64mm., or 24 inches. Probably the examination of a larger number of specimens would enlarge the difference both for the males and females, but as they stand they agree very well with the overlapping in length of the respective series or generations. * Kighteenth Annual Report Fishery Board for Scotland, Part III, p. 190. | TABLE eS eS eee ee 7 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. MALES. FEMALES. ee... eee *aINYVULUT 3 i pe rae C0 IGN Es 00) x ' . . , 1 *TRIOL ' : re ot IS OA Or Os Se OS oH te rs ee ree NN ce et ' ' , ' ' re be Lomi re ret “quodg ri A otis ho ate en a fee ne ie er oe a ee he Se ’ ’ oa aly te ok i itp eee ah mci eee an ea ‘adn AprvaNy ‘Suumedg | ere ei ere rei I iar , ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Ge GY exh OG GeV tS SY en Ate Gay GR RS Ge ao ' quodg Ne aN en ce EC rn te eth kill aioe sis SOO he oe Se Bag : Me te dt, es i i ‘ody Ayae9 NT ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Oo re ' ' (NET Ya) rmGNG ns GNU nc GYD UN tpt GT nd GN OR CNT el ' ‘ ' re ‘ ‘ 1 ‘Surumedg ' ' , Fi ' ‘ ' ' '_ =e AN ' ' ' N Oo N SHS BS A A a oF ' ' ' ' ' ' . q Fest (OSU esc Con y= Nie Co Ho eb SL OOl= Os) LQ) GICs lo, eo) nk Oo aA Oo oO Ht 5 CCU CGN Crain COME COME ICD RIGOR MEIC MeMCoMMCame Cor ceHich' |——-——_ ————| —_—_ —___ ———_ | ————. — S ee. oo ~ 61 6-061 GcI-SIL £8 & Ry es ef ZI1-ZOL 08 Gad 86-29 = a SE SSeS) ees SE [SS SS SL ~ SIT S-FIL O&T-O0T SIL G-08 L-¥8 96-99 6lL 9- FIT ¥EL-OOL 96 G08 1-18 96-29 G-8IL G-PIT OST-LOL 66 88 9-98 ¥6-8 ‘uvoy, =| ‘esvaoay | ‘osuvry ‘ON ‘uvoy «=| ‘odvaeay | ‘osuviy ‘ON "IIT saraag ‘II Saruag “UBOI 8-¢¢ 6-86 ‘oDVIOAYW Gv-1& ‘OSURYT *[ saruag ¥6 GG = ss se = * - ‘pvoysing 61 ; . g 2 = a ce ae 2 - - ‘qoour0(y eee : = a (a4 see a a = ce oes * e Bs “c Li |e ee Coopaeny: && iG - - - ‘eapi10qy ee 2 - - ‘yoour0( iS it - - - ‘yoour0g P - - - ‘usep.leqy “ONT *20R[ I - “paurtqutoo ‘ooq £9 ce £GZ ce 9g, a4 1G “e ‘GZ ce ‘6% ce “‘6L ce 8L a4 ‘ZI taquieoeq - “‘peurquios "AON °9g, ce ‘TI Jequeao Ny - ‘poaurlquiod "400 2g, ce FS ‘ST 4049700 ‘oyeq 180 Part (I1.—Twenty-second Annual Report The Table giving the particulars of the sprats obtained in the various collections is given on page 178, and a comparison may now be made between the average size indicated for the various groups. If the difference between the average size of the groups be calculated, it will be found that the amount between the first and second series is as follows in the various months :—23'lmm. for all the December collec- tions combined, 33:2 for April, 42°7 for October, 19°9 for November; the mean for the four being 29°7mm., or about one and three sixteenths of an inch. The difference in some of the cases is considerable, and this is owing in large measure to the very small numbers obtained, and to the fact, still more, that the great majority of the smaller specimens escaped through the meshes of the net. The large difference in the average size in October is due to the fact that the first series was represented by four specimens got in the tow-net and measuring from 31 to 45mm., and one specimen of 54mm., and, on the other hand, to the average of the few specimens in the next series being too high, as already referred to. The low average for November was caused by the opposite, and especially by the average for the first series being exceptionally high. From this circumstance, the fact that only the larger specimens of the first series were taken in the small-meshed net, comparison may also be made between what I have termed the mean, which is based on the intermediate size between the largest and the smallest in a group. This system has also its disadvantages, unless the largest and the smallest fishes present fairly represent the limits of the series, but it tends to diminish the pre- dominance of the larger fishes in obtaining the arithmetical average. On this basis, the respective differences between the averages of the first and second groups are these :—35-0 for April, 38 for October, 27 for Novem- ber, and 30 for December, the mean of the lot being 32°5mm. The presence of small fishes in the tow-net, as small as 39mm. in December, and 40mm. in April in the shrimp-net, shows that the true average is under that arithmetically calculated. The differences between the averages of the second and third series are as follows :—March 21:0, April 36-6, May 37:5, October 30:4, November 38°9, and December 38°5, the mean of the differences being 33°8. This amount is rather above the natural difference owing to the fact adverted to, that the larger fishes, many of which no doubt belong to a fourth group, are included in the third group, and thus the average of the latter is somewhat raised. The mean of the combined differences is, calculated on the other basis, 35:2mm., or a little over 12 inches, and this probably represents the amount of annual growth between one series and another in the sprat. As already stated, the imperfection of the collections of the first or younger group of fishes does not allow an accurate calculation of the size of that group to be made, but from the sizes obtained in April, December, and September it is certain that the range and the average are under what is calculated from the sizes represented. In order to throw light on the subject, I have made a curve (PI. X), based on the measurements of the best collections, showing the gradual growth of the sprat in the different generations. From this, it appears, that at one year of age, about the beginning of June, the average size of the sprat is a little over 60mm., and when two year’s old, at a corresponding period, about 93mm. There are not sufficient data to show the precise size in the next June, but, as in the end of March and the beginning of April the average size is about 118mm., it is probable that at the beginning of June the average size would be a little over 120mm. This would indicate an approximate | growth of 30mm. between the first generation and the second, and 27mm. between the second and the third. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 181 The growth of the sprat is thus slow compared to most of the Gadoids, but it is, of course, a much smaller species. Its growth is not greatly inferior to that of the Norway Pout, the smallest of the Gadvids I have dealt with. In winter, moreover, the curves and measurements show that the growth is very much slower; most of it appears to take place between April and autumn. In this respect the sprat resembles other fishes. There is one remarkable circumstance about the sprat, that after the third or fourth generation spawns it dies or disappears. Very few fishes seem to survive to the following year; and this forms a contrast to the conditions obtaining among the flat-fishes and most round fishes, in which many generations survive after maturity is reached and spawn in successive years. With regard to sexual maturity and the age at which it is attained, a comparison may be made between the collections from the Cromarty Firth on Ist June and that from the Dornoch on the 31st March, or two months earlier—two months, moreover, in which growth is comparatively rapid. The curve of the former on Plate VIII (Fig. 7) shows an apparently homogeneous and symmetrical group, from 73 to 110mm., with an average of 92°9mm. As already stated, the condition of the reproductive organs in this series was only partially examined, but if the smaller resembled those of about 104mm.—and spawning, as we have seen, goes on into July, during which a considerable amount of growth occurs—then the whole group would probably spawn, and these fishes were about two years of age. The great group in the March collection, ranging from 108mm. to 139mm., were obviously all approaching ripeness or fully matured, and would all spawn in the course of the season. It is probable, also, from the condition of the reproductive organs, that the next younger generation, or those two years of age, would spawn also before the close of the season, or at all events the males would, and in that case they would come into line with the series got at Cromarty, and indicate that sexual maturity is reached at two years of age. The average length and weight of the sprats at one, two, and three years of age, according to this research, are approximately as follows :— Increase. Mm Grammes, Mm. Grammes. One year, - - 63 1-4 = se Two years, - - 93 5:0 30 3°6 Three years, . 120 12°5 27 75 In the investigation made by Jenkins, based on the examination of tne ear-bones, three generations were also determined, but the average sizes do not correspond. His results are as follows, the weights here inserted being derived from my observations on the relation of weight to length, as described on page 145. Increase Mm. Grammes. Mm. Grammes, First year, - - 75 2°5 as as Second year, - 110 9-2 35 6-7 Third year, - - 130 16°4 20 7:2 XII. TIX 07 “TITA —0a(T | .,_ B06 ae8U 66 “pourq wor) | Tce NI COEN >) Gt SIGUE at (OOe i < 1cO Nn iGNIime Os . 5 t ; 6 5 : 3 5 5 re me Ll re re i] XI. |XII. X. eae poems) oe ste el Se Suge ene gine Nios Cer mies cele ag Wil ate eek eet eM Reha TN SG) ale WGN CO muna Tete OO Hiei re tCD “9a 6L Oe ee ee OF ee SP a ie (9 er ey a kel ay Wee ge et 7) ie) © rie we a fae ie mi ured [St Ser eg ns, SRS ee fo Sey as bons oer ee 2 eae VIII. | 1X. Aberdeen Bay. “TO6L | #20 PG-8T TABLE I. MEASUREMENTS OF SPRATS IN 2MM. GROUPS, V. | VI. |VIL {TUL} TV. “oie a eS. ae oes fee eee 1 9 1] pepe Ee] Cg Thee oa Sion) t= ele een Se ee “PO6L a ie oni, aC newer Miramar dy 9T eae aie man? Sey ROI: : ‘FO6L Ge hee ae ea oe ey : SnAg ee. rs | ‘nady g ee en Oe sk Oe Sa aS ao Rens aa ee er co : : Fe Een (eS LV AG | Se oe eee ae Re ane et i ee ee ee ee oO N rt $ GN ri SGN st N ~ ~ oO st Sed Nn 2 2 ] 2 1 Part IL1—Twenty-second Annual Report 1] 10 182 MM. 183 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. TABLE I.—continued. _— q ¢ >) uel oT | EREUIGUIOS) NH Settee se eay Py e A TOO 1G: TAD cA OO! OO nee) pk ge CNN tee ve ola ee Dee SOR ME tere “TIX °F “ITITA - aie? : a eet ee re —"09q = | ,_ 8061 cin pee ea Fe = ent a ear Rel ier reciente Wace mar iS Ja(T 6Z eae ae ; a S| | p aa 3 : NAN we os Baal ches bd “TO6L aca ae tng ee ithaca Pr gated ilies i ON geen a ga Co mee ee *oaq 1 Py Py ry ° . . . . . . . ° bd | ,_006T SES SSicot art Ss ee a er ae — 99q, 6L . . ® a = | ,_ 0061 Ms Ceara eae coc ic Pn a PY uae CE ets lett at eal acd g IS | 00(T SI °. ° ° r ° . . . . . P) . . ° . oc = “LO6L dealin gore me Same Shes Sta ersten etn ese SeommereNS PAN GTI Be = Sl ory Col 13 > “AON 8% . rs . . . . . . . . . . . = < a |. “LO6L | ann :on Sats sires oo) Sl Gl bo) ©. Cd co) Go wi es ey GP ie orm : : : IS 490 F2-81 : ie teas ota I a ep eeted Sx : a e “PO6L Renee a at ae, Mo MENU NAN o yo nde et Sucaeeh arte ee ee are Lorie Soneohanages : “PO6L 22 Ee ee eee We ka : = | __ LO6T XN oO 19 09 AN YO wD OO = ri : PT See reat = oun? T Vesti ‘bad “peurquo;) | inn) ina) inn) N nN re re : : re 2 : : 0 ri ‘TL pue ‘Ty = | _PO6L = tudy 91 ae “PO6BL om oO A NAN FW =| rq qudy 8 | ari eT a nr ne iat eee a TW ecclite oO Oe as Ll ee eee RES Une: eT mse ale, *> — = |Site oe Ran AB ISR HR a te GEL ae a oh altroet Sp es gpembalnretealgmealiensiiaral = Bs pe cal cause aati erent a aWeeeel tee 4 Oba eos TEN mere, OO" (GOL EN Set (60: Ot CaN 5S ene DY ie co oD S | AN oO ae 4 hon! al onl rH We i eae a Se a ee ee 184 Part ITI.—Twenty-second Annual Report TABLE I.—continued. Dornoch Firth. Off Burghead. panera nee IL. |U1.|Iv.| V.| VI] . i. {10 = |i MM. sora eal feral ese meta latte fea ele le leslealgctedta ld. ele. coi use a RSE CBs 0 ele PDS A el 38-9 - 1 Ao = 23 - 15 oe 1 6-7 1 8-9 i Boal = 1 2) 2 2-3 4 1 3| 3 25 1| 8 1| 3 VAL er 6-7 8 7 A 8-9 - 5 1| 4 2) 2 60a = 5 1 as 4] 4] 1 23 - 13 1| 3 2/2 45 - 1/90)... 4:11 7 15 | 15 67. 2 | 56 4| 14 22221 1 8-9 - 98 2) 27 31 | 31 70-1 1 (207 2 | 40 45} 451 8 Dia _je1| 2| 6 | 64 60 | 604 4 4-5 2| 1 [287| 2/10 | 88 64/64] 2 6-7 -| 8|... 276| 10) 9| 81 59 | 59] 3 go =| ab 2 live a5 | 7) 57 1!51|s521 1 80-1 4\... te | 9| 9 | 44 43 | 43] 1 B23 eleaG 76|16| 8 | 34 25} 254 2 a5 =| 6] a e247 | 4 as 1/12/13] 1 6-7 7 17|14| 3] 19 4| 6 {10 g:9° -|'6 | | aioe ls |e 4|1| 5] 2 0:1 - ll | 2) oe lay 13) a5 2} 2| 4] 1 23 -|14| 2|.3|24| 4/17 5 5/1 45..-|97 | 1) 247 | Bilas Bie iles 67 -|15| 1| 4| 10! 21120 211] 38 8-9 -| 16 14a ul 4/4) 5 ree eT 185 ita et kes) «dl, ae Cea ate a a a ep as > a N s re ioe) re re ra ial sH | N ; re So re HO LO6T ‘Av 6 : aay Reo emer ite or & om . . . . Bay “LOGI ‘ounr gz yjLuna a ar ro ee Beate a a eS Mis RSP le eis Se a we ee BPs ; “L061 So fos: Ler, ee are ck | kaa We te ae Hi | Cure OT fake, ete ee eee Fo ah ea oe RR ee ei ER adios or BNE de oe *pourquioo anes ‘III pue ‘TT—‘oeq | = Off Burghead. —_ “E061 “09, 8% 1061 "00 9% 5 50 28 of the Fishery Board or Scotland. TABLE I.—continued. “PO6BL 1 1 1 4 6 9 *peurquioa ‘TA~"AI—"20q | 8061 16 12 3 | 10] 14 Dornoch Firth. TET EVE Ves ale 110-1 2 2-3 4-5 6-7 8-9 130-1 2-3 4-5 6-7 8-9 140-1 2-3 186 Part I1I.—Twenty-second Annual Report 6. WitcH (Pleuronectes cynoglossus, L.). There now exists a considerable amount of material to show the growth of this flat-fish in the earlier period of its life, for the first few generations, young forms having been procured in the tow-nets or the fine-meshed net used with the otter-trawl. The witch spawns rather later than most of the other pleuronectids. On the east coast of Scotland the spawning period was found by me to extend from May to August, the maximum spawning occuring about the end of June.* Cunningham found it spawning in the Clyde towards the end of June,? and Williamson obtained the floating eggs in Lochfyne in each month from April to August inclusive sparingly in these two months, and most abundantly in “J une.t Holt found ripe specimens on the west coast of:Treland in March, April, and May, and expressed the opinion that it also spawns in June;$ and Herdman and Dawson, with reference to the Irish Sea, describe this fish as spawning from May to July.|| The spawning period may therefore be regarded as extending from April into August, with a maximum towards the end of June, The egg measures from 1°15 to 1:19mm. and according to Cunningham hatches at temperatures varying from 53° to 68° on the sixth day, and at lower temperatures on the ninth day. Holt found that the eggs fertilised by him on 14th May hatched mostly on the seventh day ; some as early as the sixth and others as late as the ninth day, but the temperature of the water was not noted. The surface and bottom temperatures off the Firth of Forth, where the depth is about thirty fathoms, are approximately as follows in the months during which the witch spawns. April. May. June. July. | August. Surface, - Sa aye 46°5° Bilis 54:3° ape Bottom, - am Ad Gs 44:3° 45° 48-5° 51:5° The lower temperatures mentioned by Cunningham are not specified, and the eggs of the witch were not among those submitted to temperature- experiments by Dannevig at Dunbar. “But in the experiments referred to { it was found that the egg of the cod, which is larger than that of the witch, being about 1:39mm., took 153 ‘days to hatch - at a temperature of 42°°8, 12? days at 46°°4, 104 days at 50°, and 92 days at 53°°6; while the egg of the flounder, which is smaller than that of the witch, measuring 0°95 to 105mm. in diameter, at the same temperatures hatched , in 64, 54, 43 and 32 days respectively. It may therefore be assumed that if the bulk of the eggs of the witch be spawned in the latter part of June, the majority of the larve hatch out about a week later, or, approxi- mately, at the beginning of July. The hatching period, owing to the influence of temperature, will be more contracted than the period of spawning, *Highth Ann. Report Fishery Board for Scotland, Part ITT., p. 263 (1890) ; Minth rbid. p. 264; Tenth ibid., pp. 284, 242. + Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinr., vol. XXX et. Le. plOlMGdssy): f Seventeenth Ann. Rep. Fisher Yy Board for Scotland, Part I1I., p. 99 (1899). § Rep. to Council, Roy. Dublin Soc. for 1851, p. 258 (1 892). || ** Fishes and Fisheries of the Irish Sea,” p. 55, (1902). I Thirteenth Ann. Rep. Fishery Board for Scotland, Part I11., p. 147. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 187 The larval witch on escaping from the egg measures, according to Holt,* about 3:°99mm., and ten days after hatching, when the yolk was exhausted, a specimen measured 5°57mm. Cunningham found that in forty- eight hours after hatching the length of the larva increased from 3:9 to 5-9mm., a rapid increase. From the very considerable length at which transformation is completed, it is evident that the pelagic stage of this species is comparatively prolonged ; one, incompletely transformed, with the left eye on the ridge of the head, and measuring 40mm. in length, was taken by myself on 15th January off Aberdeen. In the present Report (p. 270) Dr. H. C. Williamson describes the post-larval and early young stages of the witch. In the accompanying Table I give the particulars concerning 151 post-larval witches caught in tow-nets at various depths in Aberdeen Bay and off it, in the Dornoch Firth, and in the Clyde. Sci. Trans. Roy. Dubl. Soc. V. (Ser. II.), p. 84 (1893). | TABLE 188 Part I11.—Twentysecond Annual Report SIZE (Mm.). Place and Date. 7 | 819 110] 11] 12)13) 14] 15 | 16] 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 ABERDEEN Bay. 1900. 1st October,- - 5 5 : S 5 3 B F 5 ; . 1 i 1902. 15th January, 1903. 16th October, 7th November, ” ” DornocH FIRTH. 1903. 20th October, 11th November, 12th 3 CLYDE. 1899. 7th June, - WN ys 5th, = . me sT ay 8 wo & ° eH PB we PSS Sg wm eH we = (= 0 . ‘ . . . bo = ° . . ” »” 15th July, - 16th ,, - 18th ,, - {thal oe= . > . . . . ist August, - 28 29 | 30 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 189 33 | 34 1 1 1 35 | 36 | 37 2 dey) 1 1 1 . 38 | 39 | 40 1 2 Tl Xe . Q Tow-net. ” ” 30 fms, Remarks. Serial iii. 1fm. from bottom. 2 fms. from bottom. 8 fms. to 9-10 fms. at 14 fms. 8-9 fms. Mid-water net. Surface-net, 3 fms. froni surface. Bottom tow-net, near trawl head. Small-meshed trawl. Still pelagic. Tow-net, 6 fms. below surface. ” Ee) »@ mid-water. near surface. above bottom. Pelagic. » ” ” 14fms. Between Pladda and Ailsa Craig. 5 fms. Between Sanda and Brennan Head. 5-20fms. Between Mull of Can- tire and Corsewall. gor oe Shrimp. Stations Vv a VY: 20fms. Between Ailsa Craig and Mull of Cantire. 25 fms. Between Mull of Can- tire and Corsewall. on trawl head. Station III. 25 fms. Between Pladda and Turnberry. on trawl head. Station XII. 10-15 fms. Series III. 20fms. Station IV. | i 1} 190 Part I1I—Twenty-second Annuai Report They are to be found in Aberdeen Bay in October and November, and, as above stated, an odd specimen may be procured even in January. The size of those obtained ranged from 12 to 40mm. (3-12 inches), transformation being completed and bottom-life begun as a rule about the latter size. In the Dornoch Firth a few were also obtained in October and November, from 22 to 38mm. In the Clyde, in the deep water across the mouth of the Firth, in June and July, a number were procured ranging from 6°5 to 37mm., the smaller forms being generally caught towards the surface and the larger forms deeper. On Ist August these measured 14, 15, and 17mm. I am indebted to Dr. Williamson for particulars of these. In the absence of a complete periodic series of tow-net collections extending over the whole time from the beginning of spawning, it is not possible to tell the age of the specimens given in the Table; but if spawn- ing ceases in August it follows that those got in Aberdeen Bay in October and November must be two months old, and may be more, and that the specimen, incompletely metamorphosed, procured on 15th January, was over four months old. The size at which metamorphosis is completed, and therefore the duration of the pelagic stage in this species, is there- fore considerable. The young forms living on the bottom were also sometimes caught in the small-meshed net, enveloping the cod-end of the otter-trawl, or in the shrimp-trawl. Thus, on 24th October, in sixty fathoms some miles off Aberdeen, nine specimens were taken, five of which measured 42mm., and one each 37, 38, 40, and 43mm. These clearly belonged to the preceding spawning season, and would be a few months old. On 28th December, in thirty fathoms, off Burghead Bay in the Moray Firth, fourteen specimens were secured which measured as follows:— Mm. 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 63 2 1 1 3 2 1 1 = il 1 1 All these also belonged to the previous spawning season; the next largest got in the net was 137mm. (see below). In the same locality, on 14th November, one measuring 56mm. (2,3, inches) was taken, and it belongs to the same category. On 2\1st January, in fifty fathoms, in the Moray Firth, a specimen of 47mm. was taken ; on 23rd January, in the same place, another of 45mm., the tail of which was, however, damaged, and its real length would be several milli- metres greater. (n Ist April, off Burghead Bay, in thirty-two fathoms, seven small witches were caught of the following sizes :—60, 65, 66, 74, 76, 77, 83mm. (23-3} inches), which would be, approximately, from eight to ten months old; the next largest was 144mm. On the west coast, two were caught in Loch Long, off Ruad Dubh, in thirty-five fathoms, on 20th September, which measured 57 and 58mm. respectively ; on 17th September, in Upper Loch Etive, in fifty-two fathoms, six were taken, four of which measured 47mm., one 57 mm., and one 60 mm.; on 21st April, one measuring 90mm. (3} inches) was obtained seventeen miles off Corsewall Point. There seems little doubt that all these also belonged to the spawning-season immediately preceding. Holt, on the coast of Ireland, caught specimens of 42mm. in eighty fathoms on 19th August, which he was of opinion were from eggs spawned early in the season, and were thus from four to six months old ; and in July he got one in one hundred and forty-four fathoms, measur- ing 12.5em., which he believed to be about one year or more old.* In some of the hauls a number of specimens were procured belonging to a fairly well-defined older group, and these, with some others, are represented in the accompanying Table. * Sci Trans. Roy. Dublin Soc. V (Ser. II.) 85 of the Fishery Board for Scotland, aL MORAY FIRTH. DEEP SEA. X. XI. XII. XIII. 27-28 Nov., 28 Dec., 1903. ay 24 Dec., 1901. 8 ° - > ° Z Orr bo — bob — NPN OOWATATO bo =18 Nov., 1901. oO re Oo ke bo 09 bo oo bo NWR Re WORD oN Non Re oo bo rt bo bore bo Meo Dw ware [emer Wor) bo bo mob bre op S \Tot.| O | g Tot. bo Be porDo ra NTOHSOAQW a He OO oo ne mor e bo Cr bo bo bo H bo OAT? Orr bo bo 11 Tot. 2 me po w& TOO OF DOL an WNP OMSCTIOBRO H Qowrn S [Tot] O | g |Tot. = Nor Coe Be Oo cwPr to = = mm C100 OR bo = > = RR oO we > O11 O1 Co DO bo 192 Part IIT.—Twenty-second Annual Report Thus, in the haul of 14th November (I) there were eight specimens between 13 and 16cm. (viz.:—132, 140, 144, 146, 148, 152, 156, 161mm.), and the next size was 242mm. In that of 28th December the group was represented by ten specimens, measuring from 137mm. to 168mm., the next largest being 215mm.; in the haul of 23rd January it was represented by nine specimens, from 138 to 186mm., the next size being 222mm., and in the haul of lst April by fourty-four, from 144 to 191mm., the next largest being 217mm. A consideration of the first and second series or generations in these cases throws light on the rate of growth of the fish, and the measure- ments may be grouped as follows, showing the smallest and largest specimens represented in each case, and the mean size: — FIRST SERIES. Arithmetic] G tri Date. No. | Smallest. | Largest. | Range. eee a pivtde 1903. Mm. Mm Mm Mm. Mm 14th November, - i - - - 56 = 28th December, - 14 40 62 22 44°7 52:0 1904. 23rd January, — 1 - ~ - 470 - Ist April, - - 7 60 83 23 71°6 7155 SECOND SERIES. Date. No. Smallest. | Largest. | Range. pee ea ed 1903. Mm. Mm. Mm. | Mm. Mm. 14th November, - 8 132 161 29 147°4 1465 28th December, — 10 137 168 31 150°2 152°5 1904. 28rd January, —- 9 138 186 48 167°4 162°0 Ist April, - - 44 144 191 47 166°L 167°5 The arithmetic average, it may be explained, is obtained by adding up the sizes of the fishes represented in each group and dividing by the number of fishes; it will deviate from the true average size in one direction or the other if the larger or the smaller fishes of the group predominate in numbers. The geometric mean is the middle figure between the extreme sizes, viz.:—the largest fish and the smallest; its accuracy depends upon the limits of the group being truly indicated, Considering first the difference in size between the first series of witches and the second series, which are one year older, it is evident that the size of the single specimens of the first series obtained on 14th November and 23rd January respectively, are not representative, the former (56mm.) being too large and the latter (47mm.) too small. This is shown by the townet collections in October and November, as represented in Table A. and Plate XI, in which specimens measuring of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 193 from 12mm. to 40mm. were secured. The differences between the two series on 28th December and on lst April are these :— a La Arithmetic | Geometric Smallest. | Largest. Average. AMeat Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm. 28th December, - 97 104 105°5 100°5 Ist April, - - 84 108 94°5 96°0 If the mean of the average sizes be taken for the two hauls, the difference between the first series and the second series is, for the arithmetic average, 100°O0mm., and for the geometric, 98°3mm—and this might be taken as approximately representing the increase in growth in length in the witch at this stage in one year, 7.e., about 33 inches. It will be seen, however, as is the general rule, that the average difference in length is greater at the earlier date than at the later; in other words, that the younger fishes increase in length more rapidly than those one year older. The annual increment is therefore better represented on Ist April than on 28th December; and since lst April is two or three months anterior to the height of the hatching season, and the more rapid growth in length of the smaller fishes continues, the true difference in length between witches which are one year old and those which are two years old is probably under 90mm, (33 inches). The average length of a one-year-old witch appears to be about 34 inches, and that of a two- year-old somewhat under 7 inches. The above Tables also furnish information as to the growth of the first and the second series between the dates of the collections. Thus, in the ninety-five days between 28th December and Ist April the increments of the first series of witches was as follows :— { Arithmetic Geometric Smallest. Largest. Average. Maan Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm. 20 21 26:9 19°65 In the period mentioned, therefore, the young witches grew a little over 20mm. longer—about 7 of an inch. The second series of older fishes grew less rapidly. Comparison of the sizes at the various dates shows the following increases :— [ TABLE. 194: Part I1I.—Twenty-second Annual Report Increase. No. Le Of Of y Smallest | Largest | Average.| Mean. Fish. Fish. 14th November to Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm. 28th December, 44 5 7 2°8 6:0 98th December to 23rd January, - 26 1 18 17-2 9°5 23rd January to 1st April, - 69 6 5 —1:3 5D 28th December to 1st April, - 95 ff 23 15:9 15:0 14th November to ist April, - 139 12 30 18:7 21:0 The increase in length in the ninety-five days from 28th December to 1st April amounted to about 15mm. (3 inch); on the 139 days from 14th November to Ist April, to about- 20mm. (? inch). It will be noticed, as pointed out in previous reports, that the larger fishes of an early series grow more rapidly that the smallest, 7.e., the variation in the sizes of the individual fishes of the group—due primarily to a difference in the time of hatching, early or late—becomes more pronounced, which is one of the causes of the coalescence of the older generations or groups. It will also be observed that, so far as these data go, growth was more rapid in December and January than in spring. This might be expected from the higher temperature of the bottom water in the depths where the witches lived during the former months, growth being closely related to temperature. Unfortunately, no observations have yet been made with sufficient frequency to enable the temperatures at these depths in the northern waters to be approximately stated for the various months of the year. Off the Firth of Forth, in thirty fathoms, according to the Garland’s observations, the mean bottom-temperature in the months referred to were—November, 49° F.; December, 49°2° ; January, 41°7° ; February, 41°35° ; March, 40°1° ; April 43°3°. With regard to the sizes and growth of the witches of older series, above two years, there is more difficulty, owing to the coalescence of the groups, and the different rate of growth of the males and females after sexeral maturity is attained ; and there are not yet sufficient observations on the older males and females to make the matter clear. In most of the collections, as may be observed from the table, there is a general absence of specimens between the second and third groups, and it is not certain whether this gap is natural, 7,¢., that it is caused by there being really no of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 195 intermediate sizes, the growth ofthe largest of the second series not having brought that series up to the third—or whether it is owing to the imperfect collections. A comparison of the measurements at the different dates shows that the latter factor at least partly accounts for it, inasmuch as smaller specimens of the third series were obtained in January and April than in November as shown :— Cm. 15 15°5 16 16°5 17 17°5 18 18° 19 19°5 20 20°56 21 21°56 22 22°65 23 23°5 24 With Novjigls 2 2 ie multis Saniee Saye aa ee {ih via av aT: OSth Dec aD Ty Tig 2 meee ae Bes =k ee eo 1 a a 2srardans, iy Po) 40) Se! ie 1 ae = arate == Se het eI Dye, 1st April, Sry Te ta Sh Sy Bidet wl TE ee pong es or Oca rate a Dy 8 Tn the curves-of measurements there is a marked drop indicating a division between the third and the fourth series, but it does not agree in the different cases, and is based upon not very many mixed measurements of males and females. The lowest point is at 30-3lem. in November, 27cm. in January, 30-3lcm. in December, and 29cm. in April. Study of the curves of the other series of measurements given in the Table shows that the fixing of the division between the third and fourth groups must be deferred. If, however, as reasoned above, a two-year-old witch measures on the average about 7 inches, and the rate of growth is slightly reduced, the average length when three years old will probably be about 10 inches, or 25cm., with a range for the group of approxi- mately from 84 to 114 inches. The average size and the range of size at which maturity is first reached in the males and females are not yet sufficiently elucidated. I found females ripe at 14 inches, spent at 13 inches, and nearly ripe at 122 inches ; and males ripe at 15 inches, nearly ripe at 114 inches.* On the west coast of Ireland the smallest ripe female found by Holt was twelve inches, and the smallest approaching ripeness was also 12 inches; the smallest ripe male was 104 inches, and the smallest approaching ripeness 10 inches, From these facts it appears that the female witch does not spawn before the fourth year ; some males may possibly become mature in their third year. It is noteworthy that in this species, under certain sizes the males are much more numerous than the females. In 2348 specimens under 16 inches, and mostly from 10 to 13 inches, the greater part of which were examined by Mr. F. G. Pearcey on board the Garland, 915 were females and 1833 were males, the males at these sizes being thus rather more than twice as numerous as the females. In 104 examined by myself there were sixty-seven males and thirty-seven females. Among large witches, on the other hand, from 13 or 14 inches upwards the proportions of the sexes are reversed. Of 422 examined, 306 were females (34-50cm.) and 116 males. 7. THE Norway Pour (Gadus Esmarkit). Since describing the observations made on the growth of this species in the Nineteenth Annual Reportt collections have been obtained and measurements made on several occasions. Most of the fish were caught in the Moray Firth, or off Aberdeen, but in two instances collections were secured in the deep water off the Shetlands. The first haul was for forty-five minutes on 19th May, 1901, in sixty-five fathoms, about fifty-three miles S.E. by S. 4S. from the south point of Fetlar Island, Shetland ; the bottom temperature was 42°5° C., and the surface 46°6° C. The number of Norway Pouts caught was 285, almost all belonging to one * Eighth Ann. Rep. Fishery Board for Scotland Part III., p. 161) 1890); Tenth ibid’, p. 239. + Report of Council for 1891, Roy. Dublin Soc., p. 272, + Part III., p. 155 (1901). 196 Part III,—Twenty-second Annual Report series, which extended from 85mm. to 129mm.. the range being thus 44mm. The arithmetic average size for the 279 in the series was 106:2mm., the mean was 107mm., and the maximum ordinate 10°5cm. (Pl. XII). The remaining six fishes, measuring from 137 to 149mm., represented part of the second series. The next collection was obtained on 11th December, 1901, from the grounds seventy-five miles south-east of Sumburgh Head, Shetland, in seventy-five fathoms of water. The number of specimens secured in the small-meshed net was 704. Most of them belonged to one series, although three were represented. ‘The first was not well represented, and was not cut off so sharply from the next series of larger fishes as in the hauls in September and October of the preceding year.* The measurements, in lem. groupings, are given in the Table appended ; and the 2mm. grouping is as follows at the point of division :— 115-6 117-8 119-20 1212 123-4 125-6 127-8 129-380 181.2 10 iui if 5 1 4 14 21 25 This series extends from 97mm. to 122mm., a range of 25mm. ; the smaller forms are no doubt absent. The arithmetic average size of the eighty-five fishes contained in it was 111°5mm., and the mean was 109'5mm. The maximum range in this series in the collections made in October 1900, which included 1553 fishes, was 50mm., and if this be applied in the present case it would make the size of the smallest belonging to it about 72mm., and the mean size on this basis would be about 97mm. The next older group begins at 124mm., and apparently extends to 180mm. or 182mm., but it is possible it terminates at about 164mm. The two-millimetre grouping from 157mm. to the end is as follows :— 157-8 159-60 161-2 163-4 165-6 167-8 169-70 171-2 173-4 175-6 177-8 14 8 6 4 7 12 6 4 4 5 5 170-80 181-2 183-4 185-6 187-8 189-90 191-2 193-4 195-6 197-8 3 1 - 1 3 - 1 - 2 1 Taking the series as ending at 182mm., the range of the 611 fishes composing it amounts to 58mm. ; the arithmetic average size is 142°3mm. and the mean 153mm. There were other eight fishes, the largest being 197mm., which evidently belong to a third series. The arithmetic average size is 190°9mm. For comparison with the preceding collections taken in the same neigh- bourhood I give here the main features in tabular form, the averages being the actual arithmetical average. Ist Series. 2nd Series. 3rd Series, Date. Range. Average.| Range. | Average. Range. Average. 1900. mm. mm, mm. 31 August z 2 110-162 140-2 | 163-213 176°8 4September} 51-92 78:7 117-155 136°0 157-200 168°9 16-19 Octr. 66-116 87°7 119-172 143°6 177-197 182°5 1901. 19 May 85-129 106°2 - - = + 11 Decembe 97-122 1115 124-182 142°3 185-197 .| 190:9 | , “* Toe. cit., plate ix, —- of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 197 If, however, the series ends at 164mm., then the average size of the second group would be 139:9mm., the mean size 144, and the range 40mm. ; the third group would have a range of 32mm., an average size of 174-1, and a mean of 181mm. The differences between the average size of the various groups as shown above are as follows :— Ist to 2nd. 2nd to 3rd, 36°6 57-3 32°9 55-9 38°9 20°8 [45:3 | 48°6 In the December haul the first and third series were very imperfectly represented (see Pl. XII.), and the averages given do n t correctly show the proper sizes. The figures in brackets indicate the difference of the corrected means. Collections of the Norway Pout were also made at various times a few miles off Aberdeen in the deep water known as the Dog Hole, the depth varying from about fifty to about seventy fathoms. The first was on 28th June, in sixty-five fathoms, eleven miles off ; the bottom temperature was 482° F., and the surface temperature 52°5° F. The number of specimens procured was 141, One of those was a very small one, measuring 27mm., no doubt spawned some months earlier. The next series comprised 131, ranging in size from 125mm. to 172mm., the range being 47mm.; the arithmetical average size was 150:2mm., the mean 148:5mm., and the maximum ordinate 14°5cm. There were six in a third group, ranging from 178 to 194mm., with an average size of 187°2mm., the mean being 186mm. Other three probably formed a fourth series, the sizes being 210, 215, and 222mm., and the average 212°3 mm. In the next collection, on 30th July, in sixty-two fathoms, the bottom temperature being 57° F., and the surface temperature 58°6° F., 350 specimens were taken, all belonging, apparently, te the same series, The range of sizes was from 120mm. to 184mm., or an extent of 64mm. ; the arithmetical average was 155-‘1mm., the mean 152mm., and the maximum ordinate 15°5mm. The third lot was got on 21st August, in fifty-eight fathoms, the surface temperature being 55°9° F., and they numbered 218 specimens. ‘T'wo, possibly three, series, were present. The first comprised three fishes, measuring 67, 81, and 83mm. The second included 214, from 130mm. to 189mm., the range being thus 59mm. ; the average size was 158°8mm., the mean 159°5, and the maximum ordinate 16cm. On 3rd September, the fourth collection was made in fifty-eight fathoms in the same locality, the bottom temperature being 53° F., and the surface temperature 532°. Most of the fishes in the small-meshed net escaped, owing to a hole in it; the number of Norway Pouts obtained was fifteen, ranging from 132 to 168mm., the average size being 156°9mm., the mean 150mm., and the maximum ordinate 16cm. A few days later, on 10th September, eight specimens were taken in Aberdeen Bay, measuring 76, 77, 83, 85, 87, 91, 93, 94mm. respectively. The average size was 85'7mm., the mean 85, and the maximum ordinate 9cm. The next collection at the Dog Hole was on 16th December, in fifty- seven fathoms, the bottom temperature being 46°2° F. The number of specimens taken was fifty-four, belonging to two series. The first included 198 Part IIT.—Twenty-second Annual Report seventeen fishes, measuring from 114mm. to 132mm.; the average size was 124:7mm., the mean 123mm., and the maximum ordinate between 12 and 12°5cm. The second series comprised thirty-seven fishes, ranging from 142mm. to 184mm.; the arithmetic average size was 160°8, the mean 163mm., and the maximum ordinate 15*5cem. The particulars in regard to the specimens taken off Aberdeen may be summed up in the following Table, which also includes a number caught in the same locality by the Garland in October and November of the previous year :— Ist Series. 2nd Series. 3rd Series. 4th Series. Range. | Aver. | Mean.j No.| Range.| Aver. | Mean.j Range. | Aver. | Mean.J Range. | Aver. |Mean. ere ers en as Revie Geen, Tea rs aaa Oct. 12, ° A A 26 | 59-107 96°3 83°0 “OB DEE : ; . 200 | s7-117 | 101:8 | 102-0 j 164 Noy. fis 5 * ° 60 | 80-117 | 102°9 98°5 #168-170 | 169 a 9, ° 5 4 51 | 83-114 99°2 98°5 1901. June 28, . 27 . 181 |125-172 | 150°2 | 148°5 {178-194 | 187°2 | 186 [210-222 | 212°3 July 30, : = . 850 |120-184 | 155-1 | 152 Ang. otal 167—-85 77°0 | 75 214 |130-189 | 158-8 | 159° 4 Zon Sept. 3, A . e 15 |182-168 | 156°9 | 150 - 10, | 76-94] 85:7 | 85 : Dec. 16, | 114-132) 124-7 | 123 | 87 |142-184 | 160°8 | 163 The hauls on 9th November 1900, and 10th September 1901, were taken in Aberdeen Bay in about ten fathoms; all the others in 1900 in deeper water, from thirty-three to sixty fathoms up to ten miles from shore. Beginning with the younger fishes, the one taken at the end of June, measuring 27mm. (1; inch), was doubtless about two or three months old, and derived from the spawning in the previous spring. This series was not represented in the July collection, but in August the three measuring 67, 81, and 83mm. were no doubt large members of this group ; the average size at this period is probably under what is given in the Table. On 10th September, in Aberdeen Bay, the eight specimens of this series taken had an average length of 85°7mm.; and three months later, on 16th December, the average size of seventeen was 124:7mm. This would indicate an increment of 39mm. in the period named, and 47°7mm, from 21st August, 117 days earlier, or 408mm. per ten days, which is too large. In the Firth of Clyde a few collections were also obtained, but the numbers were small. On 15th July, 1899, one was taken in a few fathoms of water in Machray Bay, Arran; it measured 85mm. On 4th October, 1901, thirty-six were caught in the shrimp-net of the Garland between Rhuad Point and Ailsa Craig. They ranged in size from 63mm. to 97mm.; the arithmetical average size was 83°5mm., and the mean 80mm., and they no doubt belonged to the same year’s spawning. In the Moray Firth the Norway Pout is fairly common in the deeper water, and some collections were in sufficient numbers to enable curves of their measurements to be drawn. On 4th July, 1901, a small collec- tion, consisting of sixteen specimens, was procured in fifty fathoms a fev of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 199 miles from Kinnaird Head. They appeared to belong to two groups, the first consisting of eleven, ranging in length from 125mm. to 172mm., with an average of 154:3mm., and the second of five specimens from 183 to 202mm., the average being 190°2mm. On 14th November, 1903, 432 were taken in thirty fathoms off Burg- head Bay, belonging to two series. The first comprised 369 specimens, varying in length from 75 to 137mm., the average size being 108-Omm., the mean 106mm., and the maximum ordinate 10°5em. The second series, of sixty-three fishes, extended from 141mm. to 173mm., the average size being 150‘5mm., the mean 157mm., and the maximum ordinate 15°5cem. In the same locality another collection was made, in thirty fathoms, on 28th December, 1903, and 307 specimens procured, all belonging to the same series. The sizes ranged from 88mm. to 124mm., the average being 103:4mm., tle mean 106mm., and the maximum ordinate 10°5cm. A fourth collection in this locality was procured on Ist April, 1904, and apparently only one series was represented. It comprised 347 specimens, ranging in size from 93mm. to 139mm., the average being 110-2mm. or 42 inches, and the mean 116mm. On 23rd January 1904, 250 specimens were procured in fifty fathoms, off Kinnaird Head, three series being represented. The first consisted of 205, ranging in size from 96mm. to 136mm. ; the average was 115°3, the mean 116mm., and the maximum ordinate 12°5cm. The next group was composed of forty-four, from 145mm. to 18lmm.; the average being 158°6, the mean 163mm., and the maximum ordinate 15-5cm. There was a large one measuring 203mm. The particulars are given in the accompanying Table :— : SERIES I, Series II. Series III. Date and Place. No.| Range. |Averagej No.| Range. |AverageNo.| Range. |Average. Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm. Off Burghead, ie ia 14th Nov. 1903,|355 | 75-126 | 107:0 } 77 | 127-173 | 147-1 28th Dec. », |907 | 88-124 103°4 Ist April 1904,/347 | 93-139 110°2 Off Kinnaird Head, 4th July 1901,) 11 | 125-172 154°3 | 5 | 188-202 190°2 28rd Jan. ,, |205 | 96-136 | 115°3 | 44 | 145-181 1586 | 1 | 203 In these collections it will be observed that as a rule the second series is poorly represented. ‘he apparent annual increment of length amounting in the three cases in which comparison can be made to 40:1, 35:7, and 43-3mm., the mean of the three being 39°7mm., or 13 inches. The information that may be derived from the Table as to the rate of growth from one date to the other is not very great, the successive averages irrespective of place being 107:0, 103°4, 115-3, 110°2 and 154°3. The latter is based upon only eleven specimens, and is too large, larger, indeed, than the average in November, 147°1, which deals with the measurement of seventy-seven fishes. 200 Part II.—Twenty-second Annual Report Information as to the size at which the Norway Pout becomes mature is scanty, the only observations, as far as | know, being those by Holt,* who found two ripe females, each 43 inches in length on the west coast of Ireland early in April. ITexamined the condition of the reproductive organs in many of the specimens procured by me. Seven females from the collection obtained off Burghead on 14th November, varying in size from 151 to 171mm. (6-62 inches), had small ovaries, the largest eggs ranging in diameter from ‘189 to :23lmm., Others on 28th December, from 95 to 118mm., had the ovaries only “slightly developed,” but the size of the eggs was not determined. On 23rd January some of those caught in fifty fathoms off Kinnaird Head were examined, and both the weight of the ovary and the diameter of the largest eggs had considerably increased. The following Table exhibits the particulars, the dimensions being in millimetres, and the weight in grammes, The first six are from the November collection, and the others from that in January. as : Weight of Diameter of Length. Gross Weight. ee ry. Largest Eggs. 151 27°9 ‘21 152 28:2 17 ‘21 157 30°9 12 .23 158 31:2 16 189 164 32°6 “21 171 38:4 “21 153 24:7 “<5 “44 155 26°5 oh “46 155 28°6 1:3 "57 | 155 28:4 11 | 155 26°7 8 | 158 31:0 1:8 ve 161 31-7 1-2 ‘D7T-63 180 41:0) 1°3 50 202 67°1 3°4 59-63 ) Those examined from the collection made off Burghead on Ist April were all “quite immature,” their sizes ranging from 93 to 139mm. (32-53 inches) so that this circumstance together with the facts in the above Table appear to show that spawning occurs probably in February and March. A Table giving the measurements in twenty collsctions, arranged in ~ half-centimetres, is appended. * Roy. Dubl. Soc. Report of Cownerl for 1891, App., p. 291. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 201 Aberdeen. | Off Shetlands Cm. ) Me eT EDS VETS Vio Vane er VIILPIX. | X. | , 5 1 3 | *b 4 5) 5 “ | TOME eles |esee |. oe jeee | S6| Saal es he Al <5 = Eso | | ee 1 | 8 STS eet ee AL oe 2: | Lod C5) |° asad lees sa (7 o | 2 9 Ie e2eeled Lee oe he Hl 9 | 50 | 17 Ba P2548) (engl 10 5 | 46 | 10 age | 48 5 5 | 38: | 9 Bee lhe © van eye ite 28 | 10 ice |b Ey. G4} “5 Chet | eae hace 1 4 38 12 re Olen 6415) 3 5 etl eae i eee 6% 7 | 26 13 pee h zt) Gri he SS | i 31) doe |e) ae ie 9 9 Galas AER 1 |120 14 eee ade ela es ila] Hee DY 5 fae. ob |) Oy BR Be 4 5 | 63 15 ADT stay |e? 4 28 “5 Pl eDlaeeGnlt oon wou ly, LO 20 16 TP | pees fabs te aD ot 6 i 5 Wl 88438] 2 5 15 17 Tea Le is! 3 25 i) i 6 9 33 12 18 1 Gi |) emul 1 14 3) 2 1 5 19 2 6 D sae 1 20 : 1 “5 ze 1 21 1 79) 1 i 22 , ee oa | I. Aberdeen Bay, 12th October, 1900. II. a5 23rd October, 1900. Ill. +3 7th November, 1900. IV. Dog Hole, off Aberdeen, 28th June. 1901. Ve AD » 30th July, 1901, VE 53 55 21st August, 1901. VII. * ” 8rd September, 1901. Vill. “1 ss 16th December, 1901. IX. Deep Water, off Shetlands, 19th May, 1901. x. a ap 31st August, 1900. KTS 53 3 4th September, 1900. Moray Firth. Clyde. XI. XIL|XUT.| XIV|XV. XVI. |XVIL. | xvim.| XIX] XX. | | Dale ‘. 1 be 5 1 1 1@)\ 8 ola iaiee 9 gs9| 5 |. Sl oe he tale 7 504 | 2] |. Seles) MONO lary a 4830 4-1 [ee 2 Ohi sam p30 2 118 |)... h.10 Ae eee Gaetan [paos 93| ... | 106 | 112 1p) ah e16 gg| .. | 68 | 64 1| 2] 26 BSitres ol 426 2 Titel eg O8. jen lelG, Hed 10} 5| 28 Pallas hl ley 44! 36) 76) 6) 4/01 16 78/\) Bl i3z/p 228i) 4 de ikte-oniees 7g| 52] 132]. eel 10 so| 52| 98] 2 ets 45| 28| 46| 9 3 | 10 19| 8| 30] 15 2 | 19 9/ 5] 14] 12 Tl 8) 4] 23] 4 2 | 3 2 ry hye Tne 4 12] i a 1 2] 1 i 1 4 2 1 1 1 1 3 = i 1 XII. Deep Water, off Shetlands, 16th October, 1900. XIII. A a 19th October, 1900. XIV. ‘7 of 11th December, 1901. XV. Deep Water, Moray Firth, off Kinnaird, 23rd January, 1904. XVI. Moray Firth, off Burghead, 1st April, 1904. XVII. ds off Kinnaird, 4th July, 1901. XVIII. » off Burghead, 14th November, 1903. XIX. ES x 28th December, 1903 XX. Firth of Clyde, between Rhuad Point and Ailsa Craig, 4th October, 1901. 202 Part I1T.—Twenty-second Annual Report 8. Tue SHArp-Tartep Lumpenus (Lumpenus lampetriformis.) Fairly large numbers of this fish are taken in the small meshed-net around the otter-trawl, more especially in the deeper parts of the Moray Firth, as off Kinnaird Head, and at the mouth of the Firth of Forth, and some of the collections have been measured. The best of these was one got at Station V. in the Firth of Forth, on 10th May, 1901, which com- prised 255 specimens. They ranged in length from 127mm. to 345mm. (5 - 134 inches). The measurements, grouped in half centimetres, are appended, and the curve is given in Plate XI. It is apparent from these that at least three series, and possibly five, are represented in the collection. What appears to be a first series is indicated by two specimens, measuring 127mm. and 128mm., the next size being 138mm. On the 16th May, on the same ground, a still smaller one was captured, viz., at 123mm., the next measuring 172mm. In a haul on 3lst August, off Sumburgh Head, in sixty-five fathoms, the smallest I have obtained was taken, viz., 84mm. (3,5; inches), the next largest in the small collection being 154mm. I am inclined to think that the specimens in the Forth collection referred to were the larger members of an early series, the smaller individuals probably escaping through the meshes of the net ; the specimen at 138mm. might also belong to this series. The second group begins at 138 or 146mm., its division from the third series being fairly well defined at 190mm. The range is thus 52mm., the average size of the thirty-three specimens, 167°8mm. (62 inches), and the mean, with the first-named limit, 164mm., and with the series beginning at 146mm., 168mm. The next group begins at 197mm., and it appears to terminate at 263mm., a range of 66mm. In the curve based on the half-centimetre grouping of the measurements, there is a depression at 23cm. ; it does not seem, however, to represent a division between series, but only irregular representation. The number of fishes composing the second series was 127, the arithmetical average size was 235'2mm., and the mean 230mm. The next series begins at 264mm., and extends to 312mm., a range of 48mm. It comprised seventy-eight fishes, whose average length was 288-9mm., the mean size being 288mm. The other fifteen fishes in the collection probably belong to an older group. They measure from 315mm. to 345mm., the average size being 325°7mm., and the mean size 330mm. The averages and limits above given are based on the supposition that five series are represented; but on the assumption that the smaller fishes belong to the same series as the second group, then the extent of the latter would be from 127mm. to 190mm., a range of 63mm., and the average size of the thirty-five fish would be a little less, viz., 165°4mm., the mean being 158°5. If the fifteen larger fishes be included with the preceding series the range would be extended from 264 to 345mm., a difference of 8lmm.—obviously too great—and the average size would become 294*9mm., the mean being 304-5mm. Looking at the curve there seems little doubt of the presence in the collection of members of a fourth series, and scarcely less of the presence of the early one. The amount of annual growth between the series as determined above are as follows :— lst to 2nd. 2nd to 3rd. 3rd to 4th. 4th to 5th. Mn. - 40:3 67:4 53°7 36°8 Inches, - 18 214 24 1,1, of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 203 If the two smallest fishes be included in the second group, the difference between the latter and the next older one is 69'8mm. Some other collections of Lwmpenus were measured, the largest being one procured off Burghead in thirty-two fathoms on 1st April, and which comprised 365 specimens. These, after being preserved in formaline, were measured by the Laboratory attendant, and the measurements are included in the Table appended. On preparing a curve, however, it is apparent that either the series was irregularly represented, or the measurements faulty, since the divisions between the groups are not marked. Four series, however, at least, seem to be indicated. With regard to the age of these groups, it is necessary first of all to decide as to the period of spawning, about which little is known. In specimens taken off the Shetlands on 3lst August and 4th September, the females, ranging in size from 234mm, to 286mm., had large ovaries, with large eggs from 1l*imm. to 1:44imm. in diameter, the ovaries them- selves measuring from 25mm. to 35mm. long.* These specimens were evidently on the eve of spawning. In a collection procured in the deep water off Kinnaird Head, Moray Firth, on 23rd January, the sizes ranging from 153 mm. to 284 mm., the ovaries were small and lax, and the tissue contained a great number of small dark-brown bodies scattered throughout them, apparently eggs or blood in the process of disintegration and absorption ; they appeared to be spent. The same condition was noted in the ovaries of the specimens taken off Burghead on 1st April. On the other hand, in a few specimens procured in the Firth of Forth on 16th August, measuring from 236 mm. to 283 mm., the eggs were well developed, the largest ranging in diameter from 1‘1 mm, to 14 mm.;_ the yolk spheres were large and small oil- globules were present. : From these observations it may be concluded that Lwmpenus spawns in the late part of the autumn or the early part of winter, and it is probable that the eggs—which appear to be demersal—do not hatch until early in spring, which may therefore be taken as the period from which to date the rate of growth. Looking to the rate of growth between the series as shown above, it is probable that the smaller specimens in May, measuring 123, 127, and 128 mm., were a little over one year of age, the specimen obtained off the Shetlands at the end of August, 84 mm. in length, being probably six or seven months old. The average size of Lwmpenus when one year old is obviously less than these sizes, the smaller forms having escaped capture. The information as to the size at which maturity is reached is very scanty, the number of specimens approaching ripeness which were examined having been small. In August the smallest in that condition were 236, 239, 241mm., and they evidently belonged to the same group as the third (197-263mm.) represented in the curve for the May measuremeuts. The probability therefore is that Lwmpenus spawn when three years of age. It may be noted that many of the largest specimens procured are males. This sex therefore does not, as with the flat-fish, grow at a slower rate after maturity than the females, A Table of measurement of some of the collections is appended, * Nineteenth Ann. Report Fishery Board for Scotland, Part L11., p. 287. 204 Part IIT.—Twenty-second Annual Report Cm. | I. | IL |IIL/Iv.| V.|/VI.|VIL] Cm. | I. | 11. | I0L)IV.| V. | VI. \VIL. 8 1 23 4 Mo ae aol 5 | Bey tO leed 2 8 | 17 9 24 inl Teel 4 | 30 5 Be LO alas 2/19 10 25 AShhaal ali WE 20 5 5 | 14 2 TU fg a fs ‘al 26 4 2 ul 5 5 | 4 1 1 17 12 1 oT 9 dale ag 2 10 5 Wine Br Mt 8 1| 1] 10 13 me 28 8 ie fe PaaS 1G By lid | 5 | 10 Lenya 12 14 | 29 8 1 ge Sule 5 | 10 2 15 2 neal 30 9 1 4 5 | 5 | 2 5 | 10 1 16 Agee ve nelle Sut 1 1 $B .8 ne Gee 5 | 4 17 Dea Ls | 2/9] 32 2 2 5 4 le el a 5 | 6 18 2 | 2 0} gs 2 1 ay la | pad 5 19 Ae rea 3l st 34 1 Bile oie tay ot Bt 7 Benoa 20 Nad 2/131 35 5 | 9| 8 1 4| 7 5 21 9 6/18] 36 cent teeth pelle 5 22 10 AN AZ | 37 | BOW ON 90) Fa | 5 | 28 5 I, Firth of Forth, 10th May, 1901. VY. Off Shetlands, 31st August, 1900. fhe 3rd, Sath July, 1901. Mee Re ee y: UV ss » 16th August, 1901. VII. Moray Firth, off Burghead, 1st April. Ot of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 20 TABLE A.—Suwow1ne RLATION BETWEEN LENGTH AND WEIGHT, PLAICE. Length, Weight in Grammes. Average Weight No. of |_ In Smoothed in Fish. atm. | Inches. Average. Average. Range. Ounces. _ ATE color “I ideo} on) Ta) Rois i bon ~J rer) T Jo) ora or ao : Ww — — (Sao) [Je ae) —— One os to bo Co Or whore wont | bo ko oe ono meat wrt | m~I~1 Or m OO wd ch o | AIO oO Hm oO | Ne) a) ~ OI NAA AOowmn WH | le lo Oo St _ aie =e | Or — te io 2) [or] — He IS io 2) =) — el ed le orm | | bo bo bo sTOUn Wow ole BEWso Sen ~WH — wo or Ct eins ~) ) or (J) iS) bo qe _ No — | He Go CO Of © oo°e = or) [op] rl we oO ~! _ — Ss) w (J) ~I 3) | oe oe a 14 ou nr rs oO Cr w I ie.2) cS ~J re | or io<) 19 _ Naco PPO _ 206 Part [1I.—Twenty-second Annual Report PLAICE—continued. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Weight} No. of IL Smoothed at Hish. In Cm. eee es, | Average. Average. Range. Ounces. 5 wa 147°9 151°4 1384— 158 9 25 g 164°6 161:°0 153- 184 5'8 8 5 mae 170°6 172:2 152- 187 8 26 104 181°5 181°4 175- 190 aoe 4 5 was 1920 195°2 a5 se 1 27 2 212°0 207°0 192— 233 au 9 15) sc 217-0 219°7 204— 225 5 28 11 230°0 233°7 224— 236 2 3) es 254:0 248-1 2i0- 278 13 29 ia 260°2 266:0 247— 276 88 4 3) wea 283°7 280°6 256— 306 AG 10 30 43 298 2991 288- 318 10'5 8 9) era 315°5 3169 286- 341 8 31 1233, 337°1 332'8 319- 368 9 a) oe 345'8 343°3 324- 375 10 32 8 347 355°4 ose 1 5 ae 373°5 382 356— 404 13 33 13 425°6 41]°2 380- 474 (5) 9) 280 434°5 433°4 324— 502 14 34 2 44.02 444°5 397— 496 13 3) nae 458°8 464°3 417— 530 12 35 132 494 484°6 432-— 558 16°77 20 #3) ane 501 509 456-— 558 ae 9 36 14,5; 532 527 481— 580 10 5) ah 549 550 510— 623 10 37 is 568 566 503— 679 17 5 see 582 585 538- 673 7 38 15 605 605 564— 644 11 D wae 628 626 540- 708 7 39 152 644°6 649°9 568- 701 10 35) hia 677 678 644— 708 wh 6 40 3 711°6 708 673-— 807 25:1 10 9) nue 739 739 708- 792 9 41 163 743°7 770 735- 782 4 9) ie 831 818 708-1104 10 42 pan 880°8 864 835-— 956 6 5) sa 879 899 835- 970 9 43 13 936 916 835-1126 8 3) sn 935 939 842-1019 8 44 173 947 954 864-1048 ane 7 3) ds 982 993 948-1048 ae 6 45 i 1049 1026 932-1168 37'3 10 5) ot 1057 1076 991-1118 6 46 183 1122 1092 913-1388 16 5 sit 1098 1131 1005-1175 4 Ee ee oh it At of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 207 PLAICK—continued. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Weight} No. of i Fish. ‘ In ae Smoothed sae In Cm. Inches. | “Verage Average. Range. Ounces. 47 4 1174 1166 1005-1317 9 3) Be 1217 1228 1161-1288 4 48 g 1293 1282 1182-1373 4 5 os 1336 1334 1218-1533 6 49 19555 1378 1375 1338-1409 2 2) nes 1417 1404 1253-1494 8 50 4 1423 1429 1381-1466 50°2 3 i) sce 1446 1459 1366-1614 4 51 2075 sa 1508 abc i 2) oh 1465 1575 wee 1 52 oan 1621 1624 1529-1713 2 a) zs 1675 1685 1437-1869 6 33 z 1759 1746 1643--1876 2 2) - 1805 1784 1727-1883 2 54 214 cae 1802 SC ot 3) aS 1784 1816 1585-1911 4 55 8 1861 1820 1826-1897 2 2) aS oe 1881 oot A 56 22,5 1940 1963 si 1 2) se Jes 2005 Ab - 57 is 2150 2073 1969-2528 "3 2) she 2053 2122 ae 1 58 ae 2163 2142 2047-2279 2 2) mo 2209 2223 seh 1 59 234 ane 2297 40 a 2) “a 2445 2371 2435-2464. 3 60 8 2372 2468 2175-2514 3 5 Sp 2587 ae 2096-3079 2 61 24 me wai a 38 62 a5 2952 bis 2733-3172 2 64 25 3681 a re ‘1 5) Tas 2981 “Ia 36m 101°7 “ 67 26,5; Be of ck e 68 os 3975 sa 3058-4092 2 5 ee 3653 was 3498-3809 2 69 ie ve che aa . 208 Part I11.—Twenty-second Annual Report PLAICE—continued. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Weight} No. of | i Fish In 'Smoothed | ne : ‘In Cm. iahae. Average. Average. | Range. Ounces. 70 273 3908 1 71 ; oe a oa 5 . 4481 1582 1 72 284 se AS ) 73 16 ) a4 1é 5 . 75 2935; 5 LEMON. 6 28 a = 7 3 BS ve 3) AOC 3°35 ere 1 8 3h * y 9 on eee eee 10 15 fe if 11 49, i i “ 5 oa 14:77 ee 1 3) ee 18:9 ane L7s35— 2075 66 2 13 5A 20-0 21°3 | 188-2097]... 3 5) 93°8 23°0 DBL = Wilez aie 6 14 3 26:0 2601 22°6 — 29 ae 8 5) aa 28°5 oe Me 15 zg ollie 32°3 26 sso LO 19H 4 5 ane 36°1 36:1 34°5 — 37:9 BAe 6 16 68; 41-2 405 | 38:5 — 44: i. 2 5) 44°9 44°9 40°2 — 516 ae 9 17 rel 48-6 483 | 44:3 — 53-1 ee 6 9) a7 51°8 47d — 51-7 tela 4 18 74 & 55:0 v eo ” 15 a 58°4 61:4 54°3 -— 62°4 ar 2 19 4 67°8 68-9 iy a 1 _— of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 209 LEMON —continued. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Weight} No. of ] in Fish. | In Cm. | Toa Average. 2, |Sioothed Range. Ounces. 5 | | ae ’ 20 g 91-0 89°3 84-9 — 99-1 “4 3) 99-2 98-0 he 1 21 8} 105-0 aa 102 -106°8 3 egies ‘ : ‘ 23 92 a a oe qc i) i 157 Sd ioe a 94 vs sae wee wae -* 25 g ee ae ve - 5 e 170 dit ae 1 26 104 214 AA dist 1 27 & 2288 os ui 1 28 11 Be _ ay “i 5 ai 262 bik 241— 283 2 29 v5 oe i sh 2) fy 340 bx) 326-354 2 30 R an bas % 5 $3. 346 363 319- 361 6 31 1235 354 if : 1 32 g 453 sks ie a) 434 ie All 474 3 33 13 a re ee 3) 484 sie 445— 524 2 34 3 468 482 °| 432- 481 3 5 493 514 439- 559 5 35 3 582 561 552- 616 20°5 4 5 598 586 518- 630 4 36 lets 579 595 538-— 658 4 2) 608 611 566- 651 2 37 ts 647 638 559- 694 4 5 658 678 559— 715 7 38 +8 718 - 697 616- 779 5 5 715 736 651- 779 4 39 153 775 754 757— 821 4 5 : 772°6 763 644— 871 i 40 : 740 788 694— 786 2 z) ais 852 829 729- 991 9 4] 164 896 872 835- 991 6 2) Aa 868 894 793- 942 4 210 Part I11.—Twenty-second Annual Report LEMON —continuwed. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Weight} No. of x in Fish. In Cm. eae Average. ae Range. Ounces. 42 vs 917 922 871— 963 2 5 3 982 oe 935-1026 3 43 + eae 1038 re vis 15) wee eee wee eee eae wee 44 172 1094 ane 1062-1126 38°6 2 5 we 63 1096 sie a 45 3 1076 1 5 ah 1119 1 46 184 nee 3) 47 4 WITCH. 4 os 19°41 @ ak, 18-21 3 7) ee [25 “30 ‘21- = ‘32 9 5 2 | 45 5 64 | 60 1 6 3 71 aes 72 2 5) 95 | ‘93 9- 1°0 2 7 2 ee oe 5 oes 1°33 | 1°31 12- 155 3 8 3h | 1-46 5 16 1 9 S is wee 5 | 10 té 11 4,5, 9) eee tee | 12 # Bes | 5 seg 8°4 1 13 5k 106 | 9:87 l 5 4 106 | 10°87 “A 1 14 4 11:4 17) 49-4 28 5 5 13-0 129 | 117 = 1433 7 15 g 14°3 14°07 | 13°0 - 15-1 5 7 6 149 15530) 13) lee 10 16 635 ica | 16°9 16:2 — 18°8 5 cD | ect 184 | 18°37 15°6 — 20 9 We #94) Ht 193 | 20:07 1 Vi) ee) a | 4 5) | 22°5 21:4 18-1 — 22°3 6 18 7% 224 23°33 | one 1 5 | 25°1 25°3 23° — 26:1 5 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 211 WITCH—-continued. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average eee : Weight} No. of | In Smoothed | a Hish. In Cm. | Inches. Average. | Average: | Range. Ounces. rae) | 19 4 28°3 28°3 27°5 — 29: one 2 | *b ae 31°38 31°6 28°45-— 34°3 Y 2 20 i 35°2 35°4 35 — 35°5 1:2 2 “5 me ee 39°7 a Bes 2) 8+ 47°2 44°0 47°5 — 46:9 2, 3 ae 45°0 47°7 43 - 47 2 22 ae 50°9 51153) 41 -— 56:3 5 5) ae 57°9 58°9 Ae 1 | 23 94 68 63°9 1 | a5) ae 65:9 69:2 60 —- 84 4 24 {a dona 73°6 70 - 78 3 ss are 78:0 80°3 70 —- 88 9 25 $ 89°1 86:1 79°3 — 69°5 31 5 co : 97°3 95-0 89:5 -108 ane 4 26 | 104 98° 99°3 88°3 -108 4 » 102 106°2 89 -109°5 6 27 3 118 117°0 Wi ley 4 5) 130°9 127°7 103 -150 10 28 ll 134:°2 137°0 127 -140 6 45) PS 146 144°] 132°3 -157 3 29 ze 152°2 IG BI7/ 137°4 -163 10 co = 162°8 164°3 144 -189 e 6 30 13 178 170°4 164 —-I186 6°3 6 5 3 170°4 | 179°8 160°8 -178 at 4 31 12} 191 192°9 163 -216 6 5 217°3 210°4 208 -231 3 32 2 2228 224°0 219 234 6 5 232 229°8 206 -255 5 33 13 234 20-7 213 -263 6 Fy 247°3 249°7 22-277 10 | 34 3 267°7 262 236 -297 4 a) 271°0 274°9 255 298 ae 10 35 2 285°9 283°5 262 -326 10°1 11 5 293°5 297 2 255 -343 9 36 14,3, 312-2 308 305 -361 13 5 318°2 320°1 314 -340 8 37 qs 330°0 Soul 312 -361 7 5 363°1 353 326 -396 14 38 15 366-0 370 312 -425 13 5 381 391 305 -467 15 39 153 426°2 414 397 -460 6 5 435 440 397 -489 8 40 ea 458°5 458 418 -500 16:2 4 3) ae 481 476°3 459 —531 rr 3 41 163 480 487°3 418 -574 12 212 Part ILT.—Twenty-second Annual Report WITCH—continued. Length. | Weight in Grammes. Average a5 Weight | No. of in Fish. In Cm. es Average. aeons Range. Ounces. cl 501°5 501°1 | 411 -630 8 42 25 o21°7 517° 489 -592 4 5) 527°8 547°8 447 -447 4 43 | te 594°0 577 574 -651 13 5 bak 608°3 608 573 -680 6 ee We 620 624°7 581 -659 2 5 AL mee 646 648 588 733 3 7 45 2 678 677 630 -729 23°9 4 = Ba 707°5 706 677 -744 oat 4 46 184 733 | 732°7 694 -772 2 Teall, es 758 760 658 -871 6 47 3 789 | 780 | 758 -821 2 a ney? 793 781 | 758 ~842 : 3 | 48 g 763 791 727 -800 26°9 2, Ps ie 818 bf 751 -885 ie 2 COMMON DAB. a “I =r) ou cod oo bo Fost qn Or oO Or Or Or Or (JU) bo Ol. he orkeo ES fae 4 cA ns H 0 bo oe bo bon wrt to CO ~T we eS Oe w Orc He bo bo ont mo WH H G2 bo Nee eS eI lo © Ge CO S> Or (JU) bo wn “JOU bo ~10 © I! obo Nee CO~1 o> ore TOW to (Soni) bo hh oY lo | m Ww co Wwe —_ sTste Mr ct lO ® Or rs He He Or —— ee So (JU) el a mee bo Wee bo wo CO Nor m= OO co | 3 5 9 1] 4:2 — 55 10 heme 2 ae 2] . a | 5 7-24. | 32 6:4 - 81 5 | 10 15 85 ‘72 75 — 9°3 7 5 is | 10°53 " S | of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 213 COMMON DAB-—-continued. | Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Leake ; Weight | No. of i Fish. I Smoothed | Hf | | In Cm. aan pee | ‘Avohige. | Range. Ounces. | ol Dd 13°8 13°7 12-1529 8 12 § 14°6 14°7 13°0 —16 11 <5. 16°6 16°4 t4°5 -18°5 24 13 5z 18:0 18:4 16°5 -20°1 10 i 20°6 20°9 ey 8 14 4 24.2 2B G7 20°5 -27°8 6 9° i 26°4. 26:2 23°5 -33°7 12 15 Zz 28°0 28°] 23°5 —32 1 8 = ot, 30°0 30°5 2h 34-1 6 16 6-75 33°4 34°3 PA Eres yi 11 D Eh 39°4 39°0 36:7 —44°6 9 17 44 44°] 431 424 —47°-] 3) 5 a0 46°0 46°3 40°5 —59 10 18 7k 48°9 50°4 alg a} 8)o% 4 | 9) cee 56°2 56°7 5) {pt 4 19 4 65:0 62°4 59 + -78 ae HF 5 66°0 69:2 64 -69 IS: 4. 20 Zé 76°6 Ten 73 -85 27) 9 5 ch, 81°6 82-7 Wn ED 7 | 21 8+ 90°0 90°3 77 ~=-99 4 3 ae 99°4 99°4 82) —136 11 22, aEr 108°7 104°9 91 -135 10 9) 106°6 115°1 98 -129 9 2 94 129°9 123°5 120 -141 8 5: 133°9 136°2 11]-149 15 24 ves 144°9 142°3 Sie 11 oy 1480 153°6 131-172 "| 25 g 167°9 163°8 148-191 5:9 8 D = 174°4 177°6 141-198 tet 9 26 104 190°5 186°9 170-219 16 =e 195°8 198 °7 171-219 5 27 é 209 9 210°9 170-247 8 “5 217°6 224°3 189-262 ll 28 11 240°7 238 °9: 191-276 6 ti 257°3 254°0 205-297 9 29 +3 269:°0 266°4 247-291 7 5 285°4 280°5 262-318 ee 8 30 13 279°8 296°4 255-290 9°8 5 35) 311 305°3 247-347 a) 7 31 123, 327 315°3 304-368 5 =5) 33 323°5 333°4 311-333 4 32 2 335 338°4 304-383 6 oy 370°7 Soot 304-396 6 33 13 336 379°9 325-347 2 ty gu 402°8 Ane 214 Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report COMMON DAB—continued. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Weight} No. of In Smoothed in Fish. In Cm. | taches. | AVerage: Average. Range. Ounces. 34 3 455 |. 14929 4) 450-460 2 5 SBE 474°5 | 449°4 439-510 See 2 35 2 445-7 | 469:8 | 389-481 15°1 3 a (anes 468°7 | 4791 | 389-573 4 36 143, | 505 | 487 | 446-559 3 a9) ses meh | 501°2 ae noe 37 =; 4 6143.) 8.45220 446-552 3 5 es 517 | §49°3 a 1 38 45 ay, | 577 Ps 5; Nee 637 oes net me 1 39 158 ry = a be rd D ee an 693°5 40 Z t | Ane | wel oe ase 5 as 750 | te | a 26°5 1 41 164 Aa | ae | aie a 5B 5 42 1s FLOUNDER. 5 . 12 3 5 13 53 5 14 4 15 i 31°3 i ud ts 1 5 . 16 6,55 5 af 17 ret 5 st 18 74 5 19 } 5 20 i Py oe i a 5 om 78:7 a 66- 85 2°8 3 21 8} wae 85°4 ve A ay 5 a 92 93°5 ¢ is 1 22 } ns 103 % at if 5 i 124 11S | eddie i 2 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 21h FLOUNDER—continued. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Soh PR A : 4 __| Weight] No. of | lq | in Fish. In Cm. In Average. Smoothed Range. Ounces. | Inches. 5 5 _ Average. 23 9a ie 126°7 oe ae ” 135°5 24 sa . 141-2 a) 147 150 137-157 2 5 | z Ae 162 “) 20 | eee as 170 26 =| 103 177 176 170-184 popu acess ae 184 oe} 2 & | 191 197°7 170-212 ie 2 oe re. 2195 | 209°3 219-220 > 2 2 | ll | 218 223+] 184-234 % 4 cal\eenes : 235°6 x A a 29 | we | 245-7 «| 247-7 241-248 Se4l es ‘ 261°8 s Oe = 30 | 43 | 276 279°4 9°8 1 5 | ... | 276 294-4 = oh 1 31 123, | 313-7 | 3093 297-340 “i 3 a aire % 324-4 ee a of 32 g 1 308 340°5 304-312 a) 2 Sen OS S 355-5 as . a 33 13 | 403 372'3 347-481 ih 3 iealp 2. Ne 400-9 a m 34 @ | 420 410-2 382-453 3 5B]. | 415-7 | 4951 354-481 4 35 g | 4495 | 4407 439-460 15-9 2 cn es im 458 2 io ” 36 14%, | 467 482°8 1 ce ae . 523°3 ms 37 es te 543° i x ee ee 580 5611 538-623 2 38 1 | 588 583-9 1 ee xs 606-6 39 158 - 625°3 Spelt @.: re 643-9 . ts Zs 40 2 | 6625 | 683°5 560-765 23°4 2 a ee 702:2 es o my 4l 16% o 741-7 Pe Bal os ie 781°3 és 42 * | 821 2 1 216 Part LII.—Twenty-second Annual Report LITTLE SOLE. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average rs Weight | No. of In Smoothed = silts In Cm. Inches, | 4Vetage- Lanne Range. Ounces. 6 28 Be Se oh 6 i) of 2°72 ae Py Si) 09 4 7 3 3°22 B15) 3°0- 3°4 aa 6 a5) 4:28 4°23 3°8- 4:8 ae 9 8 3h 5:18 5:20 4:3— 5:8 18 5 5) 6:15 6°34 5°0- 7°3 et 2 9 ts le, 7°53 6:°9- 9:2 11 5 ne 8°75 9°18 7°8-10-0 8} 11 10 15 11:0 10°77 aa sie 1 5 12°57 12°96 12°1-13'2 ke 3 11 4-5. 14:4 13°96 a ae 1 5) 14:9 ae 5) 1 TURBOT. | | 25 9g | 5 “ 26 103 eee 27 8 | 28 ll 5 ae 29 de } 5 30 42 5 32 5 5 Pe 33 13 as fe = ¥ 5 810°5 ey 750-871 2 34 3 | 9828 ny 29-2 1 5 ih 890 4 35 3 eee 5 ‘ 951 ae 828-1090 3 36 14,5, © 971 = ? 5 fe 991 1000 I of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 217 TURBOT— continued. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Weight{ No. of in Fish. Range. Ounces. | In Cm. aincaihed Average. | In yt | Inches. Average. : 1039 1034 1072 ie 1143 1108 1090-1289 = ee 1147 1155 1175 Hee z Pa eee wae wee eee al | Oa | se Eo ies ie wy, | 43 15 Re a8 ae eh Or or eee lool ed et =) DH Orcs = oo wre Oro ve SOU Ooi bo bo ky 2 w& bo Non none Pwo mANWwWo Wo or ORS Pew a7 on of the Fishery Board for Scotland. Average Weight} No. of in Ounces. Oru Hm C2 bo me OO OID — wwsd 660 AKG AD DAK 2BHH SOst | ell eel eee Nw a) CO CO Or wm oO m~I1mD> ore HO =) wesw bonorw oa Ie bo ko bo wy) (=) bo BS) 14 2:1 43 59 bo bo Oo — bo H CO SD Cr 1 Onl Co Or cr a LO bo Or Nore 224, Part I71.—Twenty-second Ainual Report WHITING. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Weight; No. of In Smoothed m — In Cm. | tches, | AVerase: Average. Range. Ounces. 6 15 1 5 ne : 7 5 374 1 8 ae “a 3) 4:3 3°9 + 9 5:1 Hell 4-4 ve 7 5 6-0 5'8 5-4 we 12 10 74 ek 6°8 26 5 73) 80 8:2 7:3 8 ll 9°25 9:2 8-0 6 5 10-4 10°8 9°8 8 12 12°8 12°4 11:4 7 3) 14:1 14:1 1133 3: a 13 15:5 15'8 13°4 11 5) Wf 7/ 17°4 16°5 11 14 19-0 19°3 Wall 10 5 2171 21-1 17-6 10 15 23°53 23°8 22 8 6 se) 27:0 26°6 24 aid 6 16 29°6 29°3 26°5 7 *) 31:4 32'2 29°5 3 17 356 Se 32 4 5) 38°6 38°2 33 5 18 40°5 41°3 36°4 8 13) a 44°] e 19 47-1 47°8 40°5 5 5 ae 50°7 Rss aor 20 53°2 54:0 49°5 1°5 5 st5) 58°6 577 50°7 soy 4 2) 61:3 62:1 52 11 5 66°5 67°3 66 2 22 74:1 [2ei 64 9 15 77°4 19 65 19 23 85°7 85°6 72 14 5 94°1 93°9 82 19 24 102°4 102°4 83 12 5 110°6 110°6 101 - ee 9 25 118 118°2 102 4-2 15 aby 125-2 127°3 107 I4 26 137°7 1361 121 10 3) 145°4 146°1 136 9 27 opel 157°6 154 12, 5) 172°4 168°1 148 14 28 176°9 1781 157 14 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 225 WHITING—continued. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Weight} No. of in Fish. In Cm. a es. | Average. eee Range. Ounces, =) das 185°2 187°7 159 -205 6 29 Ts 191°0 193°8 165 -205 . 14 5 ee 205°1 202-2 199 -213 sie 7 30 y 210°6 213°6 188 -228 76 11 3) ss 225 225 223 -255 ore 7 | 31 12355 2394 237 217 -276 Se 13 | 5 = 247 252°5 252 -273 ae 9 | 32 2 71 264 242 -331 Be 8 5 te 274 272 256 -312 a 10 33 13 270 279 & SRE 4 5 Pre 293 292 263 -354 Sec 9 34 3 312 309 306 -361 Ses 6 5 ies Fis 322 ee ts Sei 35 = 332 332 298 -411 12:0 8 5 ‘ eed is am Bes 36 14,3; 351 357 sf Bee Ls ime ee eee 378 378 341 -432 a 8 3% | 15 sue ate a ae sae o% leer os 392 ae - 38 CO 43 407 407 ns ie 2 oT | 356 430 428 400 -524 Ste 4 39 | 153 | 446 462 404 -524 es 5 5 = 509 504 474 -545 Ke 2 40 2 513 oe - oc 1 5 ls 588 542 ee sis I ALS 3) 105 546 sas ch it aey | honeee oes 586 spb aa 42 15 ae oo ad 3) Fic 613 © 517 -680 4 43 | 3 oh sas See ae 44 | 173 569 1 45 : 5 A 46 18% 47 $ 903 oa oe 1 5 se 859 893 723 -977 3 48 g 984 1 49 | 1933; | 5 | \ 226 Part [11.—Twenty-second Annual Report HADDOCK. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Weight | No. of ] in Fish. In Cm. Sanh Average. eae Range. Ounces. 6 23 25) ae 7 z 8 34 ae Sh ae ao he 4°6 16 1 9 ts Ae 583 : an ia 5 tee 6:1 6:3 5:6 = 6:6 22 5 10 45 YH 78 70- 7:4 25 2 ‘oO a 9:1 8'8 8 — 9:8 8 11 dfs 10:2 10°8 96 — 115 4 5 bie 12-0 11°9 11:1] — 12:7 12 12 2 13°5 13°6 12 Se liaiety 9 5) se 15°4 15°4 14°6 — 16°5 8 13 54 17-2 17°6 UG = N32 10 5) i 20°1 19°8 18°2 — 23°6 12 14 4 Par | 226 2) oo 8 73) she 25°5 Done 22°9 — 31:2 17 15 Z 28:0 283 24 —- 30°3 99 16 53 31°4 31:0 2989935 ie 16 16 6 55 33°7 33°8 BA = sell 12 “5 36°3 36°6 32°3 -— 40°3 16 17 wa ants; 39°7 | 36-6 — 43-5 21 73) 43:0 44:0) 38 — 48°5 19 18 74 49:2 48°3 44 — 53°5 22 io ies §2°7 53°0 48:1 -— 59 28 19 3 57:2 56°5 51°8 — 61 18 $5) 59°7 61°4 55:2 — 68°3 13 20 $ 67°4 65°7 64:2 - 73 2°4 ll “5 70°L 70°3 68°6 — 71 3 21 84 73°3 75°4 72°4 — 76 ae 6 5 ee ina 82°8 as aoe ne 22 rr 92°7 91:4 | 91°6 — 94:5 u 3 5 Ae 98°8 97°4 90°5 -106°3 Pre 3 23 94 100°7 102°6 96:5 -105 ee 2 73) fete 108°3 109°3 99°5 -122°5 de 10 24 a 119-0 1183 4112 ey, Sie 3 255 “ile 127°6 128°7 114°5 -135°6 tes a 25 g 142°5 1402 |126 -162 5:03 15 a5) ie 150°5 150°2 | 131°6 -177 0 23 26 104 157°5 157°3 | 188 -184 ad 24 5 aan 164°0 165°6 |148 -184 Aa 23 27 s 7h 174°6 161-206 sa 30 Be ise 184-4 1841 162-206 dit 19 28 11 192°7 194°9 176-219 Hr A 2 RAN ae st He VE Os SE et RR a Oe aa A Rl | =) ie.) Je} % = fe Do Ri: Gi oo: mR: 234, Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report COD—continued. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Weight} No. of in Fish, In Cm. tore es, | Average. ek Range. Ounces. 110 5 Ill 9) 112 5) THE NORWAY POUT. 3 13 B15 i 29-34 As 2 4 13% 5 ies < 5 2 9) ee 6 3 aon 7 2 2°5 09 1 5 a 2°9 2°84 1 8 3k 3°13 3°19 1 5 oe 3°55 3°75 3:2 - 38 4 9 Ps 4°58 4°56 3-2 - 53 13 “tas on 5°55 5:49 4°7 ~ 64 13 10 a5 6°35 6°69 a5 — 70 2 ll 5 aa 7:18 7°38 5:3 — 8°7 19 11 4,5 86 8:10 7:3 - 96 14 5) ae Pal 9:7 7°3 -10°9 17 12 3 10°8 10°87 10°3 -11°8 3 9 5 ae 121 12°41 10°9 -12°9 7 13 5} 14°34 13°81 12°7 -15°2 5 05) bee 15 15°81 12:4 -17:2 ll 14 4 18°1 17°87 17:2 -19:2 8 *5 ee 20°5 20°57 17°8 -26°5 14 15 $ 23°1 23°5 180 -28:2 8 15 33 me 27:0 26:27 23°6 -20°9 ae 10 16 6:5. 28°7 29°1 23:1 -31°7 ee 16 5) he SED 31'8 28°7 -35°8 7 17 +4 35°1 34°98 38 -38°4 3} 5 Ss 38°34 37°9 35°7 -41°4 5 18 7k 40°3 41:2 33°3 -47:0 1°4 5 5 sie 44°9 44°6 sae sit 1 19 4 48°7 50°3 47°4 -50°1 2 6 57:2 re 572° -57°3 <8 2 19°8 60:0 se ae 21 1 20:2 67:1 eee 1 of the Fishery board for Scotland. 235 GURNARD. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Weight | No. of in Fish. Range. Ounces. In Cm. | In joe eee verage. Average. | Inches. a) 4 135 5 2 is “48 Hm OO OO 1) Ww bob 9 2 *% a ie 5 = 5-93 i 56 —- 66 Or i¢2) 1 ele oor) Omweo a7 aT) 5 aba 109 36 10°2 — 12°0 38 3) age 49°3 aon 44 ~ 54 UEGh 19 3 61 5 " 85 83°3 85 — 85 3-0 22 u 83°5 85:8 | 79 - 88 24 TF 143-5 112 107-120 26 102 141. fda s| 192) | 148 236 Part ITI.—Twentieth Annual Report GURNARD— continued. Length. Weight in Grammes. Averag Weight] No. of in Fish. In Cm. red Average. yous Range. Ounces. 2) 157°7 27 é oe ees -s ¥ Bac “Oo 174°7 oe 163-183 sat 3 28 1] 8 Wire| =e Ary Abs a9) si 179°6 be 170 -186 a? 5 29 ie 6 nf ei ae 30 Li 227-0 $5 205-255 80 5 2) fe 237 235 me ae 1 31 123; 241 249 3 re 1 5 oe a 269 Gh ne 4A 32 8 297 289°7 x A 1 5 =8 ae 303 Sof 3 ae 33 13 309 312 285 -333 oe 2 5 324°3 isis 307-361 11°4 5 34 3 ee Ser a Sor aes 35 ; aa to es cae va 36 14,3; 337 bon wet tee 1 | OW 45 | 9) 38 1é | 3) ‘ | 39 153 | 5 a 40 3 41 164 573 Aa | ane 20-2 1 75) | 42 ts | 5) | SS SS EE LE PTET BE AE EE EY HERRING. 1°86 2 00131 48 2°91 1} 0:0582 14 4°3 1} "32 31-34 01 4 4°8 1g "42 sf 38-47 il 8:0 34 2:98 Be 27- 32 1 5 5 Bhs 3'8 3°63 35 - 4:0 3 9 q's 4:1 4°27 34 - 49 8 5 ase 4-9 4:97 4:4 - 5:5 11 10 tt 59 590 53 =. 7 2 5 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 237 HERRING—continued. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average Re Weight | No. of In Smoothed 2 HS In Cm. Inches. | AVev@ge: | 4 verage. Range, Ounces. 9) sve 6-9 70 60- 82 9 11 45, 8-2 82 | 76-— 9-4 11 9) He 9°5 94 | 84-11°4 23 12 3 10-9 10°6 9-5 - 12 12 9) ae 11°9 F214) 10:2 13 21 13 54 14:0 13°8 13° -— 14:7 9 5 u. 15°6 15°8 15 - 159 6 14 4 17°9 17 16:2 - 18 9 5 Bas 19°35 19°9 18°6 — 20°7 6 15 g 22-4 23°4 21°8 — 22°8 7 9 ‘5 28°4 26°0 ok 1 16 65; 27°3 29:1 26 - 28 3 5 31°5 30°8 30. - 33 4 Vi H 33°6 34:1 31 — 35 7 5 od 36°'8 36 - 38°7 6 18 7s 39°6 40°3 37 — 42°5 10 9) : 43-2 43°4 38 47 14 19 5 47°3 475 44 -— 52 a 3) 52-1 51°1 49°5 — 57 6 20 g 53°9 55°1 52°8 — 55 E9 2 9) 59°3 60°0 57°1 — 63:2 5 21 8+ 66°7 66°9 60°8 — 72°6 4 ) ae 74°'8 75°9 72 — 85 5 22 = 863 81°5 83 - 89 3 5 88°4 23 94 91°5 94:2 82 -101 4 5 101-2 98°8 93 -113 8 24 zz | 103°6 10671 85°5 -114 sr 1] i) 113°6 110°8 108 -117 53 7 25 z 1152 119°8 113-118 4:0 4 5 130°5 126°3 120 -143 6 26 104 133°3 136°2 118 -160 L7 5 144°8 143-9 126 -168 17 Pal 3 153°7 153°9 141 -186 22 d 163°2 163°3 151 -188 11 28 11 172°9 1740 149-195 14 5 he 185-9 185°2 158 -213 16 29 ys | 196°9 194°8 185 -218 8 5 ae 201°7 208°8 178 -212 12 30 43 | 227-9 219°5 188 -253 8:0 12 a 1 229°4 31 123, | 236°7 236°8 | 204 -280 7 5 244°3 248°0 {228 -259 3 32 g 263 wae 260 -266 9-3 2 Part I1].—Twenty-second Annual Report SPRAT, Length. | Weight in Grammes. Average Weight Ne. of j in ish In Cm. ‘Tn.Om.| aches. | AYE E® |‘Average, | Range Ounces Average. case Range. Ounces. 4 1; Ce y ec 5 12 50 er Baa aa 1 5 2 67 67 63-75 02 8 5 ste 84 “88 7-10 Aes 28 6 3 1:14 17 ‘92- 1°3 04 20 i) se 1°53 1:57 1-2 whe 15 7 e 2°04 2:02 16 - 2:3 ‘07 21 5 be 2°48 2°59 2°0 — 2°8 ahs 33 8 3h 2:90 3°05 2°4 — 3°6 38 5 + 3°76 3°72 3°3 - 4:3 14 9 ty 4°59 4°63 3°8 — 5:3 11 3) 5°53 5°56 4:9 - 65 14 10 +8 6°55 6°76 55-8 23 12 45 hi 8:2 8:08 71 - 9:2 ie 20 11 44 5 9°5 9°48 78 -11'8 27 5 Fe 10°75 10°86 9:7 -12°9 AS 28 12 2 12°34 12°46 10°8 —14:2 “4 33 "D = 14:27 14°34 12:2 -15°4 - 15 13 53 16°4 1 LUMPENUS. a en rine il ai a anon hea | je; 15 53 a Be 3 3) uae 4:4 15 1 16 625 : Ne i 5 5:0 - 1 I it 5:17 5°32 42- 6 3 05) 5'8 5°91 1 18 74 ie 6-41 ie 3) Ba wT 6°86 3 19 4 7°25 75 72- 73 2 3) me 81 7°65 TA = 18°F ae 3 20 § 76 8°07 (Ra 7/18) “27 2 i) a 85 8°7 : aa 1 21 84 oe | 9°38 sah ns 3) He 9:9 | 10-09 8°8 — 10°7 6 22 14 10°45 10°68 10°4 - 10°5 2 9) sas 7 11°45 10:4 — 13:71 2 23 93 12:2 12°45 10°3 — 14°7 5 3) as 13°4 12°93 12°3 — 13°8 4 24 1's 13:2 13° ai 12°8 -— 13°7 Hs 2 3) tee 14°7 13°8 - 15°6 52 2 25 Z ee # nnn ee EAAaEE EEE EN SERRE of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 239 LUMPENUS—continuwed. Length. Weight in Grammes. Average _ Weight] No. of I Smoothed oe HAE. In Cm race Average. pes ‘ae Range. Ounces. | 3) ase 26 104 162 1 5 re 27 8 5 28 11 20:2 18 —- 22-4 71 2 5 29 % 5 30 POGGE. 5 | 79) | 6 5 i 5 8 3h 3°72 » 3°42- 3:93 13 6 5 oR 4:5 4°47 3°93-— 4:94 se 12 9 2s Bee | 5°46 4°45- 5°83 : 12 5 6°48 6°34 5°15- 6 85 ah 14 10 415 7°34 7°36 6°88— 7°66 26 3 5 8:25 | 8°74 7°87- 8:64 Bis 2 11 45, 10°62 10°55 1 5 re 12-77, \e 12:30 ok es 1 12 3 13 52 13°80 12°71-14°63 “48 4 5 ee 15:12 15°38 15-1525 set 2 13 54 Be 17°51 ws a 5 ee 21:27 19°64 75 1 14 4 20°13 a - ape 1 15 ks Fee ee a to: en ee eee 240 Part III —Twenty-second Annual Report PLAICE. SHOWING THE CALCULATED WEIGHT AT VARIOUS SIZES. Length in OCentimetres. Cnantanr WN Weight in Length in Grammes. Centimetres. 009 36 075 37 52, 38 598 39 1:167 40 2°017 41 32 42 4°78 43 6 ‘807 44 9°338 45 12°428 46 16°134 47 20°513 48 26°013 49 31-509 50 38 °240 ol 45°868 52 54°454 53 64°042 54 74°700 55 87°793 56 99-420 57 113°603 58 129-075 59 145:900 - 60 164°107 61 183°781 62 208:102 63 227 °720 64 252°072 65 278°159 * 66 305920 67 335 °543 68 366 944 69 406 °450 70 Weight in Grammes. 435 632 472°947 512°336 553°861 597500 643°515 702°346 742-357 795°360 850°838 908 °824 969-398 1032-600 1115°295 1167°200 1238 °436 1312°856 1390-065 1470°249 1553 °443 1648 °160 1729147 1821°760 1917°624 2016°792 2119-322 2225-269 2370°411 2447-360 2564°174 2684344 2808 -225 2935°552 3068281 3251 °592 PLATE VI. Common Dab. = sae s De ~. PLATE VII. * a + Witch . 4 Cod. Haddock. Sprat. Herring. | | 27 aS N 1 { = N + © DS ® ae | 2 ee {LS one [e ae eee male \ | . | + — + ——— ++ - + ~ ir | . _— t = i = =) = ue — = =| te = L o | = she - 3 x 2 By) = EY a o 6 © . ~ rc = | — 1 : L tL xi | n ee =i il i = 1 ee L oS ° ° e sc oS o = 5 a g Se g g g g g 3 g g 2 s @ g aie aul er SPRAT PLATE VIII. Tie =I A= Hf ll | 2 | 7 [ Aberdeen Bay, Cromarty 9 I 16th April 160 Firth —— — Aberdeen Bay, (61 fish). 19th December (74 fish) 140 T ea i ~ fo aesiiea ro ro 4 80 zt ig 3) 4S 7) 8) 9) to) aT 12) x8) Rpeioeaee , Il 30| 18th-24th October 5 | | 0 ; + (112 fish). Lunan Bay, 28th June a (81 fish). roll 1 ==, Je 20 20 L ie = 1 Se sree we ee! “IO Reaeeershe np A Be GD sy Th Gm ah me 15 3 — 7 10 3 eueracen ad | Wii wot oH ses a + Aberdeen Bay, 9th: December 4 December a (39 fish). zi | ] viet (26 fish). 10 18 8 5 Cromarty Firth, | | 12 16 8 10th January ot all 17 CHEE) | | ab Dog Hole, Aberdeen, Bs | | 28th Novem 10 : 10 7 2 4 (14 fish). gig tes 9 all 1 | 8 5 6 | Leet] 7 o aL Gan Tann ce SO nth ENG 14 a Aberdeen Bay 6 L | 11 80 1st June Y 4) 75) lee 8! 9) 10) 1712) 18) 14 8 ir Sana te (58 fish). 5 7 20th September : ia (6 fish), 25 f - c 4 1 i= Forth IT., | Ll | 8 anti 140 oo 9th May 2 (669 fish). Pat) 25 ey ah ee ve 20 ~—4 Ainy Ga Ge Oe ssa ah 1 | = L 1 L 16 —+— 3 2 Sa Hh ees SNC ST} 10 ~——- 4 Aberdeen Bay, = 12th December ~ ; Ie (74 fish). 4 . SG GY Be ty sO ah Te ae ay 20 T : f : , ; joes Suns EA EE GN aS LONE OM PLC rd em Le 15 tot = 5 ol kee! ee ‘ Ags 6) 7 (epee iol aa) eh as! ae SPRAT “i Dornoch, 28th December (736 fish). 1 3 5 Burghead, Burghead, Dornoch, 80} 1st April 180 25th December 300 Slst Maroh 160 (74 fish). (6535 fish). (870 fish). 25 160 }-____——_ | = 280 140 20 140 260 120 15 120 240 100 ae i PLATE IX. 9 Dornoch, 25th December (185 fish). 10 ae 220 80 rr a 20} ——} 200 = i 1 60 => 180 40 Beeuiy (8s. 10) In Vieheis eae 2 o———— 160 mies oo Burghead, 150} ++ 28th December (490 fish), 20 140 oe - eal a Ly Pn slp be tae hte ae 140 = | 4 see 120 r 8 iz 10 11 12 18 14 Dornoch, 490 = 600 11th November aan eo (1693 fish). 27th December 120 (137 fish). oe ————S | 80 10 | 500 fo) 60} 100 4650 we 40 ™ | ne 50 20 =| BY 360 ay 1 1 Te Seer PGW BIE 3 sey 70 al 300 200, 6 Dornoch, al _| 22nd October sr | (41 fish). | S 50 50} 8 | 200 40 | 25 o 200 20 | % 9 10 11 12 13 10 = Seat peno nen: DeNO Nine wie yene he Se aes dia eB ah ia 25 CC cae ca Gee Ween ie ae | 100 15 50 5 Selma big OC WE Ua t4 10 All December Collections combined se Sie aaa | @ ees dale dis! i aa , sa ie 6 ‘ . ¢ 7 ae ee ewes nea rane she Vhs? RNY ary + tee pre Rctet Rin aeroae E = (m re f ; Tv ebeertertea maki es, < Cee 5 SPRAT April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. | Jan. eb. | Mar. epee Sean cile i ae . ee | Z _ Se | = x s =I =a = eae 5 = } i = I = is = | “ap 50} | —|_ | | BI | iI . . ae E : 20 ; =e | mall Ie =e | | 4 we = | all 5 bt) Ii af - | l 19 4 =! = 18 i 45 17 Witch. = t +— Off Burghead, 16 ia | 28th December. a - 4 5 35|- 18 se 12 1 30 u ic 7 10 25 9 =I 8 20 7 6 15 5 =r 4 10 3 2 5 1 ZS 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 2 22 2% 26 8 3 32 Bf 36 SB 40 42 44 46 48 60 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 o % 26 98 [90 88 34 3B Bm 40 42 44) 46 48) G0 10) 22) 14) 16) 185 (BO) 22) a4) BB) RBH AD aa EASE) HSaNAD Dy Ada aE ED | | | | | | | | | Sia ——} =i A it on Witch. Witch. 9 aM EAUR Ge teen A=T. ope. Hecti sie Collections in Aberdeen Bay 10 —{— =Townet Collections, and Moray Firth in 15th July to lst August. = 7 Octoberiencaaoveniber: Rest of curve=5th September. a LESSENS ANE ae ie 9 : en Forth, St. V., The rest of the curye=Off Burghead, ii 7 10th May 1901. i le 14th November. L| 25 le Tl 7 > 8 a8 4 Black="5 cm. grouping. | 28 Red =1 cm. Ty = | | : e % 21 em 4 { =I | 6 20 19 {Lt = = aed |) a ss 17 if === el 16 16 + ad = + | He ale ai 14 13 if ic + i t 2 2 i — tt 1 10 i Si : he 2 4 6 B&B 10 12 1 16 18 20 22 %& 36 88 30 sz 34 8 7 ie 6 | 5 ; | 4 3 2 1 = 4 2 % 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 2 26 o8 80 o2 Sf 36 38 49 42 44 46 48 50 10 21 2 13 MM 1 16 iW 18 19 20 2 22 93 Bf 2 2 BM 8 9 30 SI 32 38 SM 35 Norway Pout, off Aberdeen. 16th December. Sen MSm ID AUC 12 18) 0h) im. 10 8 9 1) Wo 1 WW i {G97 18 19 I Norway Pout, Norway Pout, off Shetland, 20 off Shetland, 16th October Slst August & (928 fish). Ath September. 200 off Shetland, (36). SNR Fore 19th October. 4th October 1903 a 180 /\ 100 20 40 5 6 7 8 8 10 11 W 48 1 1G 46 17 18 19 90 21 22 Z1 9 10 11 12.18 16 15 16 17 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 241 _ HADDOCK. SHOWING THE CALCULATED WEIGHT AT VARIOUS SIZES. epee ee SS 2 SS eee Length in Weight in Length in Weight in Centimetres. Grammes. Centimetres. Grammes. 1 008 36 367 °200 2 063 on 398 639 3 “213 38 431'846 4 504 39 467-023 5 ‘984 40 503°733 6 1°700 41 542°408 7 2-700 42, 583073 8 4:030 43 625°720 9 5°738 44. 6707449 10 7870 45 717°188 ll 10°476 46 766:034 12 13°600 47 817-087 13 17297 48 870-400 14 22566 49 914°465 15 26563 50 983800 16 32239 51 1043963 17 38 :°665 52 1107:018 18 45900 53 1171°662 19 53°980 54 1239°300 20 62°967 55 1309°470 21 72-884. 56 1444-332 Pepe 83°806 57 1457-468 93 95°754 58 1535°531 24 108°800 59 1616°333 95 122-974 60 1700°000 26 138°377 61 1786 °340 27 154°913 62 1875°641 28 180°529 63 1967°870 29 191°941 64. 2063290 30 212°500 65 2162°144 31 234°455 66 2262-764. 32 257-911 67 2367 °005 33 282846 68 2474°580 34 309 °322 69 2585 °366 35 337 °440 7 2699-524 24:2 Part I11—Twenty-second Annual Report IV.—NOTES ON SOME RARE AND INTERESTING MARINE CRUSTACEA, By Tuomas Soort, LL.D., F.L.S. (Plates XIIL.—XV ) CONTENTS. PAGE. Preliminary Remarks, ‘ : é : : : ; . 242 Copepoda :— Fam. Monstrillide, . : : : : : ‘ ye 2:8 Fam. Choniostomatide, . : : : ; : . 250 Amphipoda, ; : : : ; : 5 : : . 257 Sympoda, ‘ : . : : 4 : : ; . 258 Description of the Plates, . : F : ; : : >» 209 PRELIMINARY REMARKS. In the following notes I have described a number of minute Crustaceans belonging to the Monstrillide and the Choniostomatidee—two families of Copepoda containing aberrant and parasitic forms of more than usual interest. A few forms belonging to other groups more or less rare in the Scottish seas are also recorded here. The species recorded here belonging to the Monstrillide are as follows :— Monstrilla grandis, Giesbrecht. us longicornis, I. C. Thompson. 5 gracilicauda, Giesbrecht. anglica, Lubbock. > dubia, T. Scott, sp. n. Thaumaleus thompsont, Giesbrecht. “ rigidus (I. C. Thompson). 5 zetlandicus, T. Scott, sp. n. = rostratus, 'T. Scott, sp. n. ” The following are the names of the seven species belonging to the Choniostomatidze which are also described :— Stenothocheres egregius, Hansen, new to British Fauna. Spheronella paradoxa, Hansen, _,, - 5 BS minuta, T. Scott, sp. n. me callisome, T. Scott, sp. n. Fe cluthe, T, Scott, sp. n. lf pygmea, T, Scott, sp. n. 55 amphilochi, Hansen, A description is furnished of each of the species mentioned above, and this is illustrated by drawings which have been prepared by my son, Mr, A. Scott, A.L.S., who also prepared most of the dissections required, The preparing of these dissections wasin some cases rendered more difficult when the species happened to be represented by only a single of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 243 specimen whose appendages were not very obvious even with a moderately high magnification. Some moderately rare species of Amphipoda and Sympoda are recorded at the end of the paper, the names of which are as follows :— Hyperia medusarum (O. F. Muller). Tryphana malmi, Boeck. Anonyx nugax (Phipps). Hoplonyx cicada (Fabr.). Harpinia pectinata, G. O. Sars. Metopa borealis, G. O. Sars. Paratylus faleatus (Metzger). Megaluropus agilis, Norman Idothea neglecta, G. O. Sars. Hudorellopsis deformis, Kryoer, Pseudocuma similis, G. O. Sars. The following are the descriptions of the various species referred to :— COPEPODA. Fam. MonsTRILLIDz Genus Monstrilla, Dana, 1848. Monstrilla grandis, Giesbrecht. PI, xiii., fig. 11, 12; pl. xiv., fig. 9-11; ple xv., tig. 1, 2. 1892. Monstrilla grandis, Giesb., Pelag. Copep. des Golfes v. Neapel, p. 588, pl. 46, fig. 2, 8, 11, 17, 19, 24, 25, 35, 39. Description of the Female:—In this species the antennules of the female, which are moderately stout, are scarcely equal to one-fourth the length of the animal; their structure is somewhat similar to that of the antennules of MW, gracilicauda, but the articulations are rather more distinct (fig. 9, pl. xiv.). The fifth pair of thoracic feet are sub-cylindrical, about twice as long as broad, and with a somewhat bi-lobed extremity (fig. 10, pl. xiv.) ; the exterior lobe bears three sete, the inner one is small but the other two are elongated. The inner lobe appears to be furnished with only a single apical seta, but our dissection shows what appears to be the base of a seta on the inner margin of this lobe, the seta itself having probably been broken off; the position of this seta is indicated on the drawing by dotted lines. The abdomen consists of three segments, but the first, which is larger than the next two combined, is divided into two portions by a pseudo- articulation as shown by the drawing (fig. 11, pl. xiii., and fig. 11, pl. xiv.) ; the second and third segments are sub-equal and are together much smaller than the first segment. The furcal joints are each provided with six sete, one being situated on the outer edge near the base of the joint while the others spring from the apex (fig. 11, pl. xiv.); one of the apical setz near the inner edge is very small. The female represented by the drawing (fig. 11, pl. xiii.) measures 4°25 mm. (about + of an inch). Description of the Male :—The male is much smaller than the female ; the specimen represented by the drawing (fig. 12, pl. xiii.) measures only 2 mm. (5% of an inch). 244 Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report The antennules of the male, which are proportionally rather longer than those of the female, are five-jointed, the last joint being hinged to the preceding one (fig. 1, pl. xv.). The first and second segments of the male abdomen are not coalescent as in the female, but otherwise the two sexes are nearly alike. The armature of the furcal joints (fig. 2, pl. xv.) is similar to that of the female. The fifth pair of feet resemble very closely the fifth pair of the male of M. longiremis. Habitat—Head of Loch Fyne (Firth of Clyde), November 28, 1899, one female, and January 30, 1901, a male and a female. Professor G. S. Brady records a Monstrilla, obtained at Cullercoats in July, 1900, which he thinks may be the male of M. grandis, Giesbrecht,* and I, C. Thompson mentions the occurrence of the same species in the vicinity of the Channel Islands. Monstrilla longicornis, I. C. Thompson, PI. xiii., fig. 1-7. 1890. Monstrilla longicornis, I.C. Thompson, Trans. L’pool. Biol. Soc., vol. iv., p. 119, pl. iv., figs. 1, 2, and 4 (6). 1892. Monstrilla longiremis, Giesb., Pelagischen Copepoden des Golfes von Neapel, p. 589, pl. 46, figs. 10, 14, 22, 37, and 41 (9). 1962. : ete longiremis, T. Scott, 20th Rept. Fishery Board for Scotland, pt. iii., p. 469, pl. xxv., figs. 3 and 4 (9). The antennules in both the female and male are elongated and slender, being in some examples nearly half as long as the cephalothorax and abdomen combined; but their length seems to vary to some extent in different individuals, and those of the male appear to be proportionally rather longer than in the female. ‘The male antennules are composed of six joints, and the articulation between the fifth and sixth is so hinged that the sixth joint can be folded inwards ; the second and last joints are of nearly equal length and considerably longer than any of the others (fig. 6). In the female antennules all the joints except the first appear to be coalescent, so that each antennule is apparently only two-jointed (fig. 3). | The fifth thoracic feet of the female consist each of a sub-cylindrical plate, but the proximal half of the leg is rather wider than the lower half and is defined from it by a distinct notch on the inner margin, and from this notch there springs a moderately long seta; three other sete spring from the distal extremity of the leg, but the innermost one is short while the other two are elongated; all the setze appear to be more or less plumose (fig. 4). The fifth feet of the male are somewhat rudimentary, each being represented by a single moderately long plumose seta which springs from a small tubercle near the lower ventral margin of the last thoracic seg- ment. The genital appendages are narrow and spiniform (fig. 7), The furcal joints in the female are each furnished with five moderately long sete, but there are only four sete to each of the furcal joints in the male, This appears to be the only British species of Jfonstrilla in which the number of furcal sete in the female is five. The male of Monstrilla longicornis does not appear to have been previously recorded except by I. C. Thompson, * Nat. Hist. Trans. Northumb., Durham, and Newcastle, vol. xiv., p. 64, pl. iv., fig. 1-3. + Journ. Marine Zool. and Microscopy, vol. ii., p. 97 (No. 8, December, 1897). of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 245 The following are the localities whence I have obtained this species and the dates when the different specimens were collected :— Firth of Forth, between Fidra and the Bass Rock, October 18, 1890 (9). Firth of Forth, east of Inchkeith, August 14, 1891 (2 & S). Firth of Forth (locality not stated), 1893 (Q & 3). Firth of Forth, Station V. (to the west of May Island), August 30, 1894 (9 & 3). Firth of Forth, Station V., July 24, 1901 (9). Firth of Tay, at Buddon, December 5, 1902 (9). Thirty-five miles east of May Island (per ss. ‘“Glenogle,” of Aberdeen), August 20, 1903 (2 & 3). Off Aberdeen about ten miles, November 11, 1901 (9). Firth of Clyde, off the Ayrshire coast, November (date not stated), 1895 (9). Firth of Clyde, head of Loch Fyne, December 11, 1897 (9). Firth of Clyde, Whitefarland Bay, Arran, July 6, 1899 (¢). Solway Firth, Luce Bay (per Andrew Scott), November 26, 1901 (9). Larne Harbour, Ireland (per Andrew Scott), January 14, 1904, The female represented by the drawing (fig. 1) measured 3:1 mm., which is similar to the size given by Dr. Giesbrecht ; the length of the male which the drawing represents (fig. 2) is 2 mm. One or two of the more obvious characters by which Ji. longicornis may be distinguished from other forms are the long and somewhat slender antennules, the form and armature of the fifth pair of thoracic feet, and the number of the furcal sete. The structure of the abdomen appears also to differ to some extent from the other species of Monstrilla recorded here. It may be remarked further that the integument in this species when examined with the microscope and under a moderately high power is seen to have a granular appearance not observed in other species (see the drawings, figs .1 and 2). That I. C. Thompson’s Monstrilla longicornis is identical with MM, longiremis, Giesbrecht, must, I think, be admitted. The long antennules, the granular appearance of the integument, the number of furcal sete, and the structure of the abdomen show that it can be nothing else, and as Thompson’s name was published two years before that of Dr. Giesbrecht it must be restored. Thompson does not appear to have seen the female or Dr. Giesbrecht the male of this species. Monstrilla gracilicauda, Giesbrecht. PI. xiii., fig. 8-10; pl. xiv., fig. 15. 1892. Monstrilla gracilicauda, Giesb., op. cit., p. 587, pl. 46, figs. 9, 16, 18, 29, 32, 43. In the female of Monstrilla gracilicauda the antennules are rather shorter than in the species just described. They appear to be four- jointed, the first three being small, while the end joint is equal to the eutire length of the other three (fig. 8, pl. xiii.). The fifth pair of thoracic feet (fig. 15, pl. xiv.) are sub-quadrate in out- line, rather longer than broad, and somewhat gibbous at the distal end as shown in the drawing; each foot is furnished with three plumose sete, one on the outer aspect and two at the apex, the feathering is very delicate and can only be seen by using a moderately high magnification. The abdomen consists of four segments, the first segment, which 246 Part ITI. —Twenty-second Annual Report appears to consist of two coalescent segments, is of a sub-cylindrical form but tapers slightly towards the distal extremity ; it is about one-third longer than the breadth at the widest part and nearly twice the entire length of the next segments. The third segment is only about half the length of the second one. The furcal joints are each provided with six sete arranged as shown in the drawing (fig. 10, pl. xiii.), but one of the seta is very small. The length of the specimen represented by the drawing is 3°l mm., which is somewhat larger than that stated by Dr. Giesbrecht. No males of this species have been observed hitherto. M. gracilicauda has been collected at the following places :— Firth of Forth, above Queensferry, June 26, 1890 (9). Firth of Forth, off Musselburgh, September 29, 1892 (@). *35 miles east of May Island, Firth of Forth (per s.s, “ Glenogle ”), August 20, 1903 (9). Firth of Clyde, Whitefarland Bay, Arran, July 6, 1899 (9). Firth of Clyde, near head of Loch Fyne, November 28, 1899 (9). Monstrilla anglica, Lubbock. PI. xiii., fig. 13; pl. xiv., fig. 12-14. 1857. Monstrilla anglica, Lubbock. Ann, and Mag. Nat, Hist. (2), vol. xx., p. 409; pl &., fis. 12.8: 1900. Monstrilla (?) dane, Scott, 18th Ann. Rept. Fishery Board for Scotland, pt. 111., p. 398, pl. xiii., fig. 15-20. Description of the Female.—The specimen represented by the drawing measures 3°2 mm. (nearly 3 of an inch); it has a general resemblance in size and structure to Monstrilla longicornis, but is scarcely so robust (fig. 13, gpl. sxai1s): The antennules are elongated and slender and indistinctly three-jointed ; the basal joint is as usual very short; the next, which is not very clearly defined, is also small, but longer than the basal joint; the remaining portion consists of a single piece which may be made up of two or three coalescent joints (fig. 12, pl. xiv.). The fifth pair of thoracic feet are sub-cylindrical in outline, and nearly twice as long as broad; each foot is furnished with two elongated apical sete, and the inner margin, which is nearly straight and shorter than the outer margin, terminates in a small rounded process, beyoud which the distal portion of the foot becomes narrower as shown in the drawing (fig. 13, pl. xiv.). The genital filaments are scarcely equal in length to the furcal sete. The abdomen appears to consist of three segments; the first segment is about twice the length of the second, while the second is about one and a half times the length of the third. The furcal joints are each furnished with six setze (fig. 14, pl. xiv.). Habitat.—F¥irth of Forth, west of May Island, July 26, 1901 ; thirty- five miles east of May Island, August 20, 1903, per s.s. ‘“‘Glenogle.” Females only were observed in both gatherings. This species resembles M. longicornis in size, in the elongate antennules, and to some extent in the structure of the abdomen, but differs very distinctly in the armature of the fifth pair of thoracic feet, and in possessing six instead of five furcal setee ; and the integument appears to want the minutely granulated structure observed in M. longicornis. The specimens recorded by me in Part III. of the Eighteenth Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland from the Firth of Clyde appear to belong to Lubbock’s Monstrilla anglica; these specimens were * This specimen was of a fine green colour. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 247 apparently imperfect as regards the furcal hairs, and no doubt helped to disguise their relationship with the species named. Having now obtained specimens in fairly good condition, [am enabled to give a few accurate figures of the female which may be of interest as supplementing Dr. Bourne’s very fine drawings of the male. (See the Quarterly Journ. of Micros. ‘Science, vol. xxx., pt. 4, new series, Feb. 1890.) Monstrilla dubia, T. Scott, sp.n. PL. xiii., fig. 14; pl. xiv., fig. 16-18. Description of the Female.—Body moderately slender ; length of the specimen represented by the drawing is 3°3 mm. (fully $ of an inch). The cephalothoraciec segment is about one and a half times the entire length of the remaining thoracic segments and abdomen. The abdomen is composed of three segments ; the first segment is about equal in size to the last segment of the thorax, the second is smaller than the next, while the second and third are together scarcely as long as the first segment (fig. 14, pl. xiv.). The antennules are moderately stout and about half as long as the cephalothoracic segment, and composed of four joints ; the first and third joints are small, the second is about half as long again as the third, while the fourth is equal to the entire length of the three joints (fig. 16, pl. xiv.) The fifth pair of thoracic feet are moderately slender; each foot is _narrow and sub-cylindrical at the proximal end, but becomes wider distally and terminates in two lobes; the outer lobe is larger than the inner and is furnished with three moderately long sete, the inner lobe is narrow and appears to be devoid of setz as shown in the drawing (fig. 17, pl. xiv.). The furcal joints are each provided with four elongated hairs, one of them springs from near the base of the outer margin, two spring from the apex, while the fourth is attached on the inner aspect and near the middle of the joint, as seen in the drawing (fig. 18, pl. xiv.). Habitat.—F¥irth of Forth, east of Inchkeith, August 14, 1891; and head of Lech Fyne (Firth of Clyde), November 11, 1897, and November 28, 1899. No males have been observed. Remarks.—The Copepod of which I have just given a description does not agree with any described species known to me. The characters by which it may be distinguished are the following three: first, the structure of the abdomen, the first segment of which is as large as the segment of the thorax next to it ; second, the peculiar form of the fifth pair of thoracic feet; and, third, the number and arrangement of the furcal sete. Monstrilla dubia as described and figured here has a somewhat close resemblance to the female of M. dame as represented by the beautiful drawings of Professor Claparéde,* and especially by figure 3, taf. xvi., which shows the female from the under side; the proportional lengths of the abdominal and of the posterior thoracic segments are almost identical, but the furcal joints are represented with only three sete ; there is also a slight difference in the length of the second joint of the antennules, Had a separate drawing of the fifth pair of thoracic feet of the female been given by that author the identification of the species would have been rendered more certain. * Beobachtungen uber Anatomie und Entwicklungsgeschichte wirbelloser thier an der kiiste von Normandie, Angestellt, p. 95, taf. xvi., fig. 1-6 (1863). 248 Part I11—Twenty-second Annual Report Genus Thaumaleus Kroyer, 1849. Thaumaleus thomsoni, Giesb. Pl. xiv., fig. 1-4. 1892, Thaumaleus thomsent, Giesb., Pelag. Copep. des Golfes v. Neapel, p. 584, pl. 46, fig. 7, 27, 31, 36, 40. 1902. Thaumaleus thompsont, Scott, 20th Ann. Rept. Fishery Board for Scotland, pt. iii., p. 470, pl. xxv., fig. 5, 6. In Part III. of the Twentieth Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland, I published a description with figures of the male of Thaumaleus thompsoni taken in Lerwick Harbour, Shetland. Recently, when examining a small collection of Monstrillas that had been captured from time to time during the past twelve or fifteen years, I found a single female of the same species that had been taken in a tow-net sample collected off Scarborough on July 9, 1893, during some investigations on behalf of the Fishery Board for Scotland ; this specimen I will now briefly describe, and illustrate the description with figures showing a few of its more characteristic features. The specimen referred to was elongated and very slender, and measured 4°8 mm. in length (about $ of an inch). The cephalothoracic segment was about equal to twice the entire length of the remaining segments of the thorax and abdomen combined (fig. ay pleexive): The antennules are short and stout, and appear to consist of four joints; but the third, which is small, seems to be partly coalescent with the second (fig. 2, pl. xiv.). The fifth pair of thoracic feet are moderately large, foliaceous, and are abruptly wider at the distal extremity, the result of a lobe-like process on the inner distal aspect; each foot carries three apical sete, the innermost of which is considerably shorter than the other two, as shown in the drawing (fig. 3, pl. xiv.). The abdomen consists of two segments ; the first is fully half as long as the last segment of the thorax, and larger and more dilated than the second segment, The short furcal joints carry three moderately elongated sete (lig. 4, pl. xiv.). The structure of the fifth pair of thoracic feet, and the form of the abdomen referred to above, seem to be characteristic of this species. Thaumaleus rigidus (I.C. Thompson). PI. xiii. fig. 15--17; pl. xiv, fig. 19. 1888. Cymbasoma rigida, I. C. Thompson. Linn. Soc. Journ. Zool., vol. xx., p. 154, pl. xiii., fig. 1-4. 1890. Monstrilla rigida, Bourne. Quart. Journ. Micros. Science, VOLixxx, plixxxyal,, tie; 8, Wil, 02, 1892. Thaumaleus claparedii, Giesb., op. cit., pp. 381-385, taf. 46, fig. 5, 15, 21, 26. Description of the Female.—Length of the specimen represented by the drawing (fig. 15, pl. xiii.), 2°7 mm. (+ of an inch). The cephalothorax is moderately stout, rather wider near the anterior end, and nearly twice as long as the entire length of the remaining segments. The abdomen is composed of two segments ; the first is about one and a half times the length of the last segment of the thorax, and the proximal half is more or less dilated ; the second segment, which is smaller than the first, is probably composed of two coalescent segments, as a slight constriction, dividing the segment into two portions as shown by the drawing (fig. 15, pl. xili., and fig. 19, pl. xiv.), is observable in all the specimens examined, The antennules are short and stout and appear to be four-jointed, the first and third joints being very small (fig. 16, pl. xiii.). of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 249 The fifth pair of thoracic feet are rather longer than broad, the terminal portion being distinctly small and wider than the proximal half; each foot carries three moderately long apical sete, as shown in the drawing (fig. 17, pl. xiii.). The fureal joints, which are of moderate length, are each furnished with three sete (fig. 19, pl. xiv.). Habitat.—Mauchrie Bay, Arran, Firth of Clyde, September 17, 1886. St. Andrews Bay, August 7, and off St. Monans, Firth of Forth, September 6, 1890. Dornoch Firth (Moray Firth district), July 30, 1895. Whitefarland Bay, Arran, Firth of Clyde, July 6, and between Arran and the Ayrshire coast, November 9, 1899. All the specimens obtained were females, Remarks.—I have adopted I. C. Thompson’s name for this form in preference to that of Dr, Giesbrecht, as I am convinced, after examining a number of individuals and comparing them with the descriptions and figures of Thompson and Bourne, that Thaumaleus rigidus (1. C. Thompson) and 7. claparédii are identical. The antennules of the female in both are short and stout, and although Thompson’s figure indicates a greater number of articulations than is observed in 7’. claparédit, this may be due perhaps to certain constrictions having been mistaken for joints ; but what I rely on chiefly is the structure of the abdomen and the form and armature of the fifth pair of thoracic legs of the female, which, so far as they are represented by both Thompson’s and Bourne’s figures, are practically the same as the similar parts of 7’. claparédii represented by the drawings of Dr. Giesbrecht. Thaumaleus zetlandicus, 'T. Scott, sp. n. xiii igs 18s 190s pl save, fig. 20-22; pl. xv., fig. 3, 4. Description of the Female.—Body moderately stout and elongated ; length of the specimen represented by the drawing (fig. 18, pl. ii.), 4-°8 mm, (nearly 1 of an inch). The cephalothoracic segment is about one and a half times the entire length of the remaining segments of the thorax and abdomen. The abdomen is composed of three segments; the first segment is distinctly larger than the last segment of the thorax and about twice the entire length of the next two abdominal segments ; these two segments are sub-equal, but the second is slightly the longer of the two (fig. 22, pl. xiv.). The antennules, which are short and moderately stout, are composed of four joints; the first and third joints are smaller than the others, while the end joint is about equal to the entire length of the other three (fig. 20, pl. xiv.). The fifth pair of thoracic feet are short and broadly foliaceous and terminate in two broad rounded sub-equal lobes, the outer one of which is provided with three moderately long setw; the inner lobes do not appear to carry any setze (fig. 21, pl. xiv.). A male belonging apparently to the same species as the female described above is considerably smaller than it, and the cephalothoracic segment is only slightly longer than the combined lengths of the other thoracic segments (fig. 19, pl. xiii.). The length of this male, which is represented by the drawing just referred to, is 2°6 mm. (or nearly +; of an inch), The antennules are five-jointed and longer than those of the female (fig. 3, pl. xv.); the abdomen appears to consist of four segments, the first two are sub-equal and are each distinctly smaller than the last segment of the thorax, while the last two are together only a little longer than the preceding segment. ‘The number of furcal hairs is the same as in the female (fig. 2, pl. xv.). Halitat.—Lerwick Harbour, Shetland, October 15, 1901. 250 Part L11.—Twenty-second Annual Report Remarks,—The more obvious characters by which this species may be distinguished are: the structure and lengths of the female antennules, the three-segmented abdomen, together with the proportional difference in the size of the first segment with the preceding segment of the thorax and the other two abdominal segments; and lastly, the peculiar form of the fifth pair of thoracic feet, as indicated by the various figures. Thaumaleus rostratus, T, Scott, sp. n. Pl. xiv., fig. 5-8. Description of the Female.—The length of the specimen represented by the drawing (fig. 5) is 39 mm. (about 52, of an inch); the first cephalothoracic segment is moderately stout, tapering gradually in front into a blunt pointed rostrum; while posteriorly the body becomes gradually narrower towards the distal extremity (fig. 5, pl. xiv.). The abdomen is composed of three segments; the first segment is as large as the next two together, but the second is very small. Each of the furcal joints is provided with three sete of moderate lengths, arranged as shown in the drawing (fig. 8, pl. xiv.). Antennules short and moderately stout, four-jointed and sparingly setiferous ; the first and third joints are small, the second is about one and a half times the length of the third, while the last is equal to the entire length of the other three joints (fig. 6, pl. xiv.). The fifth pair of thoracic feet are short and foliaceous, and each terminates in two unequal lobes; the outer lobe, which is narrower than the inner and projects somewhat beyond it, is furnished with three moderately long sete; the inner lobe is broadly rounded and provided with a single seta (fig. 7, pl. xiv.). Habitat.—Lerwick Harbour, Shetland, October 15,1901. Three or four specimens were obtained, all of which were females. Remarks.—The form just described is readily distinguished by the produced forehead and by the form and armature of the fifth pair of thoracic feet. Fam. CHontostoMatip&, Hansen (1887). Genus Stenothocheres, Hansen (1897). Stenothocheres egregius, H, J. Hansen. PI. xv., fig. 5-10. 1897. Stenothocheres egregius, Hansen, The Choniostomatide, p. 89, pl. i, fig. 1 a-e. The Spheronella-like form which I ascribe to Stenothocheres egregius was obtained in the marsupium of Metopa borealis, G. O. Sars. The female represented by the drawing (fig. 5) measured about ‘68 mm. in length (nearly =, of an inch) ; the body was almost spherical in shape, but was rather longer than the height. The antennules are small (fig. 7), and the end joint, which is furnished with two moderately long spine-like terminal sete, is about one and a half times as long as the preceding one. The antennz are very minute and composed of two sub-equal joints, and they are each armed with a comparatively stout terminal spine (fig. 8). The maxillipeds were damaged while being removed for the purpose of mounting, but the second pair, so far as they could be made out, appear to be moderately strong with stout terminal claws as indicated in figure 6. The first pair of feet, though very small, are comparatively stout and two-branched, and both branches appear to be two-jointed ; the inner branches are furnished with three apical spines, the middle one being of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 251 maderately elongated, while the other two are short; the outer branches, on the other hand, are provided with one terminal spine which is moderately stout (fig. 9). The second pair appear to be more slender than the first, and the inner branches are only one-jointed and bear a single moderately long apical spine; the outer branches, which are two-jointed, are only armed with a very short spine at the apex (fig. 10). The abdomen is very small and provided with two furcal joints which bear a few minute sete. The Amphipod on which the parasite was observed occurred in a surface tow-net gathering collected in Aberdeen Bay on October 16, 1903. The parasite agrees very closely with the description and drawings of S. egregius, Hansen, as given in that author's Monograph of the Choniostomatide referred to above, avd therefore, though the Amphipod on which it was found (Metopa borealis, G. O. Sars) is a different species from that mentioned by Dr. Hansen as the host S. egregius, I am satisfied that the parasite I have described belongs to that species. The Amphipod on which Hr. Hansen obtained his specimens of S. egregius belonged to Metopa bruzelii (Goés.). Splueronella paradoxa, H. J. Hansen, PI. xv., fig. 17-19. 1897. Sphwronella paradoxa, Hansen, The Choniostomatide, p. 118, pl. iii., fig. 4 a-l; pl. iv., fig. 1 a-h. The female of this Sphwronella represented by the drawing (figs. 16 and 17) is smaller than those described by Dr. Hansen, being only ‘57 mm., whereas the smallest of the specimens mentioned by that author was ‘71 mm. But with the exception of the difference in size the specimen recorded here agrees very well with the species to which it is referred. The specimen was found in the marsupium of Bathyporeia pelagica (Bate). The figure representing a side view of the parasite shows the posterior thread-like attachment considerably twisted upon itself and terminating in a sucker disc; the only other appendages visible are at the anterior end, and comprise a pair of antennules and a pair of powerful maxillipeds. Six specimens of Bathyporeia were found to be infested with Spheronella, and all the parasites observed appeared to be adult females. The body of the female, represented by the drawings, is seen to be nearly globular, particularly when viewed from above. The antennules are three-jointed, the end joint being the longest one and the penultimate joint the smallest; they are each provided with a few sete (fig. 18). The maxillipeds (fig. 19) appear also to be three-jointed ; the first joint is very large, but the other two are smaller; the third is armed with a moderately stout terminal claw, and as the articulation between the first and second joints forms a hinge, the last two joints, together with the terminal claw, can be folded upon the first, and this allows the maxillipeds to be used as powerful grasping organs. No males were observed. Habitat—In the marsupium of Bathyporeta pelagica (Spence Bate), collected off Lossiemouth, Moray Firth, December 29, 1903. Spheronella minuta, T. Scott, sp. n, Pl. xv., fig. 11-15. An adult Spheronella was obtained in the marsupium of a specimen of Perioculodes longimanus (Spence Bate) from the Dornoch Firth, collected by the bottom tow-net on December 28, 1903. Dorsal and side views of the specimen are represented by fig. 12, 11. The length of the specimen is ‘48 mm. (about =, of an inch). 252 Part I1I.—Twenty-second Annual Report The antennules appear to be three-jointed; the first joint is nearly twice as long as the second, while the third is equal to rather more than the entire length of the first and second (fig. 13). The first maxillipeds are very small, and consist of a single stout joint armed with a moderately strong terminal claw (fig. 14). The second maxillipeds are rather more slender and elongated than the other pair; the basal joint is twice as long as broad ; the next two are small and narrow, and appear to be hinged to the basal joint; the terminal claw, which is moderately stout, is slightly curved (fig. 15). Dr, Hansen states that he obtained female Spheronellas in the marsuplums of three specimens of Perioculodes longimanus from Denmark, and that they appeared to be identical with S. paradoxa, the only appreciable difference being their smaller size, Dr. Hansen’s exten- sive knowledge of this curious and difficult group of Crustacea precludes any doubt concerning the accuracy of the identification of these specimens, I am therefore inclined to regard the Spheronelia found on the Perioculodes from the Dornoch Firth as a somewhat different form from those he observed, and have described it provisionally under a distinct specific name. This Spheronella from the Dornoch Firth Perioculodes appears to differ not only in size and shape from S. paradova, but also in the size and proportional lengths of the joints of the antennules and in the size and structure of the second maxillipeds, Spheronella callisome, T, Scott, sp. n. Pl. xv., fig. 20-27. The Spheronella I record under this name was obtained on a specimen of Callisoma crenata (Spence Bate) collected at the mouth of the Firth of Clyde on February 7, 1899. The parasite is an adult female and measured *86 mm. in length (= 54 of an inch), The body seen from above is nearly globular, and the cephalon is seen projecting somewhat beyond the anterior aspect in the form of a moderately conspicuous tubercle (fig. 21). Seen from the side the body is broadly oblong, with both the anterior and posterior ends boldly convex. The anterior portion of the body appears to be thickly beset with minute hairs (fig. 20 and 21). The antennules are three-jointed; the middle joint is very short, but the other two are moderately elongated (fig. 22). The antenne are very small and uniarticulate, and are each furnished with a single terminal seta about as long as the antennal joint (fig. 25), The mandibles are slender, elongated, and sub-cylindrical (fig. 24). The maxille are stout, and are each apparently composed of a single piece, and armed with two moderately stout terminal sete, while a third seta springs from a minute lateral process, as shown in the drawing (fig. 25). The first and second maxillipeds have each of them moderately stout basal joints, and they are each provided with strong terminal claws (fig. 26, 27). The ventral filament, which is furnished with a terminal sucker-like disc, is long and slender, and twisted upon itself as shown in fig 20. This Spheronella does not agree with any described species known to me. Spheronella cluthe, T. Scott, sp. n. Pl. xv., fig. 28-30. A single adult female of this Sphwronella was obtained in the marsupium of a specimen of Harpinia pectinata, G. O. Sars,* found in a tow-net gathering collected in moderately deep water at the mouth of the Clyde estuary, and nearly midway between Ailsa Craig and Sanda Island ; this tow-net gathering was collected on November 14, 1899. * Some remarks on the distribution of this Harpinia will be found among the Notes on Amphipoda at page 256. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 253 This parasite, which appears to differ from any other Sphwronella known to me, measures ‘74 mm. in length (about =, of aninch). Its form is almost globular, especially the dorsal view, but seen from the side the height is rather less than the width (fig. 28, 29). The only appendages that could be satisfactorily made out were the second maxillipeds, and these are moderately elongated and slender, and are each provided with a slender terminal claw (fig. 30). There does not appear to be any previous record of a Sphewronella having been found on Harpinia pectinata. Spheronella pygmea, T. Scott, sp. n. Pl. xv., fig. 31-34. The adult female of this species represented by the drawings (fig. 31 and 32), whether viewed dorsally or from the side, is seen to be of a nearly oval form, the length being equal to about one and a half times the breadth. This parasite, which is very small, measures only *49 mm. in length (about J; of an inch). The antennules and antennz appear to be rudimentary, while the only appendages of which a satisfactory examination was made were the first and second maxillipeds represented by the drawings (fig, 33, 34). The first maxillipeds, which are very small and uniarticulate, are armed with a moderately stout terminal claw (fig. 33). The second maxillipeds are elongated and three-jointed ; the inner distal angle of the first joint is produced so as to forma small bifid projection ; the first and second joints are sub-equal in length ; the third is small and narrow, and bears a somewhat feeble terminal claw (fig. 34). Habitat.—This small Sphwronella was obtained in the marsupium of a specimen of Pseudocuma similis, G. O. Sars. No males or post-larval females were observed. There does not appear to be any previous record of a Spheronella from this species of Pseudocuma. Spheronella amphilochi, H, J. Hansen. Pl. xv., fig. 35, 36. 1897. Spheronella amphilochi, H. J. H., op. cit., p. 139, pl. vil., ) fe. 38 aud pb; The Spheronellu I record under this name was found in the marsupium of Amphilochoides odontonyx (Boeck) (= Amphilochoides pusillus, G. O. Sars).* The specimen represented by the drawing (fig. 35) is a young female, and as Dr. Hansen has only described the adult form of the species from a solitary example, a satisfactory comparison between our specimen and his description and figures could not be made. Dr. Hansen’s specimen was, however, found on the same species of Amphipod, and this favours the identification of the two parasites as being the old and young females of the same species. The young female I am recording measured only "14 mm. in length (about ;4, of an inch), but the size of the adult described by Dr. Hansen was ‘54 mm. A specimen which appeared to be an adult female was taken from the marsupium of the same Amphipod in which the young one now recorded was obtained, but it was somehow lost ere it could be thoroughly examined and figured. The posterior part of the body of the young female is distinctly hispid, and the thoracic legs were furnished with long and slender terminal hairs, as shown in fig. 35. Near the middle of the dorsal aspect a number of slender bristles were observed. * Crustacea of Norway, vol. i. (Amphipoda), p. 222. See also the supplement to the volume, p. 690, where the author restores Boeck’s name, A. odontony, for the name used in the body of the work, 254 Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report The second maxillipeds were moderately powerful, but the other appendages were smaller and weaker. As this young female agrees with none of the other young forms described by Dr. Hansen, I prefer for the present to regard it as the post larval stage of his Sphceronella amphilocht. As a list of the genera and species of the Choniostomatide described by Dr. H. J. Hansen in his interesting work on that curious group of parasitic Copepoda may be useful, I give it here. To this list I have added the few odd forms mentioned in the preceding notes, and one or two others recorded in previous Reports. The names of the hosts on which the parasites have been obtained are also given, and I have indicated by an asterisk (*) such of the species as up till now have been observed in Scottish waters. This will show how much room still remains for further research among these minute organisms. The names of the parasites are arranged in alphabetical order on the left-hand side of the page, while the names of the hosts on which they have been found are placed immediately opposite. Names of the Parasites. Names of the Hosts. Gen. Aspidoecia. Erythrops elegans, G. O. Sars ; *Aspidoecia normant, Giard and HH. serrata, G. O. Sars; L. ery- Bonnier. throphthalmus (Goés.); &. microphthalmus, G. O. Sars ; and HL, abyssorum, G. O. Sars. Gen. Choniostoma. Choniostoma hanseni, Giard and | Hippolyte gaimardti, M.-Edw, and Bonnier. H. polaris (Sabine). Choniostoma mirabilis, H. J. 9 gaimardii, M.-Edw. Hansen. 7 Gen. Homeoscelus. Homeoscelus mediterranea, | Iphinoé trispinosa (Goodsir). HM. J.-H. : Homeoscelus minuta, H. J. H. Diastylis lucifera (Kroyer). Gen. Mysidion. Mysidion abyssorum, H. J. H. Erythrops abyssorum, G. O. Sars. commune, H. J. H. Erythrops serrata, G. O. 8.; #. abyssorum, G. O.8.; and Par- erythrops obesa, G. O.S. bP} Gen. Spheronella, H. J. H. (a) Spheronellas pajrasitic on Amphipoda. Spheronella abyssi, H. J. H. Astyra abysst, Boeck. acanthozonis, H.J. H,| Acanthozone cuspidata (Lepech.). amphilochi, H. J, H. | Amphilochoides odontonyx (Boeck). i bs (=Amphilochoides pusillus, G. O. Sars). i antillensis, H. J. H. | Corophiwm bonelii, M.-Edw. BS argisse, H. J. H. Argissa hamatipes, Norman (=A. typica, Boeck). of the Fishery Board for Scotland. Names of the Parasites. Names of the Hosts. Spheronella atyli, H. J. H. a bonnieri, H. J. H. a caliopti, H. J. H. * . callisome, T. Scott os capensis, H. J. H. + chinensis, H, J. H. cluthe, T. Scott. + danica, H. J. H. HM dulichie, H. J. H. +3 elegantula, H. J. H. a Frontalis, H. J. H. " giardu, H. J. H. if gitanopsidis, H.J.H. ’ holbolli, H. J. H. x intermedia, H. J. H. BS irregularts, H. J. H. nf leptochetra, H. J. H. se longipes, H. J. H. As messinensis, H. J. H. $ metope, H. J. H. ne microcephala, Giard and Bonnier. minuta, T. Scott. paradoxa, H. J. H. sf vestita, H. J. H. Paratylus swammerdami(M.-Edw.). Protomedia fasciata, Kroyer. Calliopius leviusculus (Kroyer). Callisoma crenata, Spence Bate. Lemboides afer, Stebbing. Corophium bonellit, M.-Edw. Harpinia pectinata, G. O. Sars. Corophium crassicorne (Bruz.). Dulichia monocantha, Metzger. Cheirocrates sundewalli (Rathke). Ampelisca macrocephala, Lill}. Protomedia fasciata, Kroyer. Gitanopsis arctica, G. O. Sars. Paramphithoé boeckit, H. J. H. Bruzelia typica, Boeck. Metopa rubrovittata, G. O. Sars. Leptocheirus guttatus, Grube. Ampelisca tenuicornis, Lillj. Gammaropsis melanops, G. O. Sars. Metopa bruzelit (Goés.). Ampelisca typica, Spence Bate. Perioculodes longimanus (Spence Bate). Bathyporeia norvegica, G. O. Sars ; B. pelagica (Bate); and B. robertsoni (Bate). Microprotopus maculatus, Norman. (b) Spheronellas plarasitic on Isopoda. Spheronella affinis, H. J. H. is curtipes, H. J. H. 3a munnopsidis, H. J. H. Janira maculosa, Leach. » spinosa, Harger. Munnopsis typica, M. Sars. (c) Spheronellas pjarasitic on Sympoda. Spheronella decorata, H. J. H. rh dispar, H. J. H. - insignis, H. J. H. 2B marginata, H. J. H. 5 modesta, H. J. H. pygmea, 'T. Scott. Gen. Stenothocheres, H. J. H. * Stenothocheres egregius, H. J. H. >. sarsi, H. J. H. Gen. Salenskya, Giard and Bonnier. *Salenskya tuberosa, Giard and Bonnier. Diastylis rathkei, Kroyer. Eudorella truncatula (Spence Bate). Diastylis cornuta, Boeck ; and D. rostratus, Goodsir (=D. levis Norman). Iphinoé trispinosa (Goodsir). ELudorella emarginata (Kroyer). Pseudocuma similis, G. O. Sars. Metopa bruzelli (Goés), and Metopa borealis, G. O. Sars. Stenothoé marina, Spence Bate. Ampelisca spinipes, Boeck. 256 Part III —Twenty-second Annual Report AMPHIPODA. The following notes on some species belonging to the Amphipoda and one or two other groups of the Malocostraca obtained in plankton— samples collected during the investigations recently carried out by Dr. T. Wemyss Fulton in the North Sea and the Moray Firth—may be of interest. Hyperia medusarum (O. F. Muller). This species, which appears to have a decidedly northern and Arctic distribution, and of which there is so far no authentic British record, was obtained in a surface plankton- sample collected about 180 to 185 miles east by north of Aberdeen on October 8th, 1903. One or two full-grown females and several young specimens were noticed. In the same gatherings there were observed Clione borealis and Limacina retroversa—two northern Pteropods—as well as Tryphosa nanoides, Hoplonyx cicada, and some other and commoner forms. Tryphana malmi, Boeck. This curious and brightly coloured little Amphipod occurred in a surface gathering collected off the Ord of Caith- ness, Moray Firth, on November 21st, and in a bottom gathering collected off Lossiemouth on December 29th, 1903. This is the first time I have met with 7yphana so close to the Scottish north-east coast, but the Rev. Canon A. M. Norman records its occurrence at Banff, whence specimens were sent to him many years ago by Thomas Edward,* Professor G. O. Sars in his great work on the Crustacea of Norway records this species from three different places on the west coast of Norway, and only from deep water ; he states further that Boeck also obtained it in deep water in Hardangerfjord.t The only other localities which Norman gives in his note on the distribution of the species are the Faroe Isles and North Atlantic, lat. 18° 8’, long. 30° 5’ W. (Stebbing). Zryphana malmi may, however, be less rare than the apparent dearth of information concerning its distribution would seem to imply. I have obtained it in at least two plankton-samples from the Shetland Islands, in addition to the two mentioned above.t Anonyx nugax (Phipps). This species, rarely met with in the British seas, was captured in Aberdeen Bay on December 28rd, 1903. The species was taken for the first time in Scottish waters in February, 1889 ; on that occasion it was obtained near May Island, at the mouth of the Forth estuary.§ It was again met with in January, 1901, in the Cromarty Firth, when specimens collected on the 10th of that month by Mr. F. G. Pearcey were forwarded to the Fishery Board’s Laboratory at Bay of Nigg, near Aberdeen,|| and the present record of its occurrence in Aberdeen Bay is the only other occasion on which it has been observed off the east coast of Scotland. None of the Scottish specimens of Anonyx nugax have attained to anything like the size of some Arctic examples, Hoplonyx cicada (Fabricius). This species, which, like the last, is also a northern form, has already been referred to in the note on Hyperia * British Amphipoda of the Tribe Hyperiide, &c., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), vol. v., p. 183 (January 1900). + Crustacea of Norway, vol. i., Amphipoda, p. 18. + Conseil permanent International pour l’exploration de la Mer; Bull. des Results, Pt. D., for August, 1903, pp. 44-47. § Eleventh Ann. Rept. of the Fishery Board for Scotland, Part III., p. 212, pl. v., fig. 18-20 (1898). || Wineteenth Ann. Rept. of the Fishery Board for Scotland, Pt. III., p. 2&8 (1901). of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 257 medusarum ; but the largest specimen observed in the collections under consideration was obtained in the same gathering with Anonyx nugax, from Aberdeen Bay. ‘Though the species appears to be widely distributed along the west side of the British Islands, the records of its occurrence on the east coast of Scotland appear to be very few, and its presence in Aberdeen Bay is all the more interesting. It may be stated that the gathering from Aberdeen Bay collected on December 23rd, 1903, contained a considerable number of other species of Amphipoda besides the two I have specially mentioned, and the names of the following may be given, Acidostoma obesum, Tryphosa longipes, Ampelisca spinipes, Iphimedea minutia, and one or two fine specimens of Amathilla homari. Specimens of Diastylis rostrata and Siriella armata were also observed. Harpinia pectinata, G. O. Sars. The occurrence of the single specimen of Harpinia pectinata already mentioned in connection with Spheronella cluthe, whose host it was, is of sufficient interest to be specially referred to in these notes. ‘The only stations that may be considered as within the British limits where this species has hitherto been observed “are all to the west of Ireland and between Ireland and Rockall.”* Its capture at the mouth of the Clyde estuary may be an indication that it may be found in other places when carefully sought for. H. pectinata, which seems to be confined to moderately deep water, is a form that may easily be mistaken for a more common species, the characters by which it is distinguished being not easily made out without dissection. Professor G. O. Sars speaks of it as being “by no means rare” off the south and west coasts of Norway and occurring, asa rule, in company with H. neglecta. The Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing has seen the Clyde specimen and confirms my ideutification. Metopa borealis, G. O. Sars. The occurrence of this species in Aberdeen Bay has already been referred to under the Choniostomatide as one of the hosts of Stenothocheres egregius. Metopa borealis, like M. alderi and one or two other members of the same genus, has an unarmed telson, but with the assistance of Professor G. O. Sars’ excellent mono- graph, it need not be confounded with any of the other species referred to. MM. borealis is a northern form, but appears to have a fairly wide distribution ; it is one of the rarer forms recorded by Dr. Robertson from the Hirth of Clyde. Paratylus falcatus, Metzger. One or two specimens of Paratylus falcatus were obtained in a tow-net gathering collected in the Dornoch Firth on December 26th, 1903. Though this Paratylus bears a strong resemblance to P. wncinatus, G. O. Sars, the tooth-like posterior projec- tions of the segments of the metasome on the dorsal aspect readily distinguish it. I have found both forms in Scottish waters, but neither of them very common. Megaluropus agilis, Norman. This somewhat curious species, readily distinguished by the peculiar form of the eyes, was obtained in a bottom plankton-sample collected on December 29th about three miles off Lossiemouth, Moray Firth. ISOPODA. Idothea neglecta, G.O. Sars. Professor G. O. Sars in his great work on the Crustacea of Norway, now in course of publication, has in Volume II. * British Amphipoda, by Rev. A. M. Norman; Ann. and Mag. Nut. Hist., (7), vol. yv., p. 337 (April, 1900), R 258 Part II1I.—Twenty-second Annual Report (Isopoda) described as distinct species one or two forms which previously have apparently been included with the Isopod known as /dotea tricuspt- data, which was in consequence considered to bea variable species. One of the forms referred to, which Professor Sars has raised to specific rank is named by him Jdothea neglecta,* and he states concerning it that it “occurs along the whole Norwegian coast from Christiania Fjord to Vadsé, and is often found in great abundance among decaying alge in depths ranging from six to twenty fathoms.” This form is probably not un- common round the coasts of Scotland, and is, I think, included among the varieties of ‘ /dotea tricuspidata’ described in Bate and Westwood’s Sessile-eyed Crustacea.t Idothea neglecta appears to be moderately frequent in some parts of the Clyde estuary ; my friend Mr. Alexander Patience of Glasgow, who first directed my attention to its occurrence in the Clyde, has obtained a considerable number of specimens, which he has been kind enough to let me examine, and there are several specimens in the collection in the Fishery Board’s Laboratory, Bay of Nigg, which are also from the Clyde district. The average size of the male of this Idothea is stated by Sars to be 25 millimetres in length (=1 inch). One of the specimens in the Laboratory is, however, much larger than that, being 33 millimetres, while others in the same collection measure 28, 27, 25, and 20 millimetres. The female is much smaller than the male, its average size being, according to Sars, only 16 millimetres. All the specimens in the Laboratory have been collected in different parts of upper Loch Fyne during 1897 and 1899. Idothea neglecta has not yet been recorded from the east coast of Scotland. SYMPODA. Eudorellopsis deformis (Kroyer). This curious little species was obtained in a plankton-sample collected by the s.s. “‘Glenogle” about fifty miles to the eastward of the May Island, Firth of Forth, on August 20th, 1903 ; the species has been observed in various other localities, but very sparingly and usually in moderately deep water. Pseudocuma similis, G.O. Sars. This species has already been referred to as the host of Sphwronella pygmea under the Choniostomatide ; a few specimens occurred in a plankton-sample collected in moderately deep water about three miles off Lossiemouth, in the Moray Firth, on December 29th, 1903. Pseudocuma similis resembles the more common LP. cercaria very closely, and this may be the reason it has only recently been recognised as a British species. A considerable number of other microcrustaceans, more or less interest- ing, have been noticed in various plankton-samples collected during the recent fishery investigations carried out under the direction of Dr, Fulton in the North Sea and Moray Firth. These may be described in a sub- sequent paper dealing more generally with that group of marine organisms. I take this opportunity to substitute other generic names in room of two that have recently been adopted for certain forms of Copepoda, but which I now find to be pre-occupied. (a). Genus Platypsyllus, T. Scott, Twentieth Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland (1902), Pt. IIL, p. 455. I find that Platypsyllus was used in 1869 both by Dr. Ritsema and Professor Westwood for a * Crustacea of Norway, vol. ii., p. 84., pl. xxxv, fig. 1. + British Sessile-eyed Crustacea, vol. ii., p. 381, text figs. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 259 genus of Coleoptera, its use by me for a genus of Copepoda must therefore apse, and the name I propose to substitute for it is Jeanella, the diminu- ive of the proper name Jean. (b) Genus Paranthessius, T. Scott, Twenty-first Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland (1903), Pt. IiI., p. 120. This name has already been used by Professor Claus for a genus of Copepoda different from that described in the Report mentioned, and it must therefore be replaced by another, and the name I propose to substitute for it is Heteranthessius. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. PLATE XIII. Monstrilla longicornis, I. C. Thompson. Fig. 1. Female, dorsal view Fig. 2. Male, dorsal view Fig. 3. Antennule, female : : Fig. 4. Fifth pair of thoracic feet, female Fig. 5. Abdomen and caudal furca, female Hig. 6. Antennule, male : 2 - : Fig. 7. Abdomen and caudal furca, male, ventral aspect Monstrilla gracilicauda, Giesbrecht. Fig. 8. Female, dorsal view Fig. 9. Antennule, female : : Fig. 10. Abdomen and caudal furca, female, Monstrilla grandis, Giesbrecht. Fig. 11. Female, dorsal view Fig. 12. Male, dorsal view Monstrilla anglica, Lubbock. Fig. 13. Female, dorsal view Monstrilla dubia, T. Scott, sp. n. Fig. 14. Female, dorsal view oe: Thaumaleus rigidus, I, C. Thompson. Fig. 15. Female, dorsal view Fig. 16. Antennule, female < : Fig. 17. Fifth pair of thoracic feet, female Thaumaleus zetlandicus, T. Scott, sp. n. Fig. 18. Female, dorsal view ; Fig. 19. Male, dorsal view - “ PLATE XIV. T haumaleus thompsoni, Giesbrecht. Fig. 1. Female, dorsal view Fig. 2. Antennule, female : - Fig. 3. Fifth pair of thoracic feet, female : : Fig. 4. Abdomen and caudal furca, female : . Diam. x 26°5. Sees x 40. Xe d3. x 80. bh x “180; xeDe XD ss x 79: SOS x Stn oe RAS 2G. Se Bhs x ais0> x 130. ster I po UALS x 20°5. Oe LOE ee TE KO 260 COIS Or 5, U5). 5 Eh Noe Part ITT.—Twenty-second Annual Report Thaumaleus rostratus, T. Scott, sp. n. . Female, dorsal view . Antennule, female . Fifth pair of thoracic feet, female . Abdomen and caudal furca, female Monstrilla grandis, Giesbrecht. : Antennule, female , . Fifth pair of thoracic feet, female . Abdomen and caudal furca, female Monstrilla anglica, Lubbock. . Antennule, female . Fifth pair of thoracic feet, female . Abdomen and caudal furca, female Monstrilla gracilicauda, Giesbrecht. Fifth pair of thoracic feet, female Monstrilla dubia, T. Scott, sp. n. . Antennule, female : . Fifth pair of thoracic feet, female . Abdomen and caudal furca, female Thaumaleus rigidus, I. C. Thompson. Abdomen and caudal furea, female Thaumaleus zetlandicus; T. Scott, sp. n. . Antennule, female . Fifth pair of thoracic feet, female . Abdomen and caudal furca, female PLATE XV. Monstrilla grandis, Giesbrecht. . Antennule, male . . Abdomen and caudal fur an fornia le Thaumaleus zetlandicus, T. Scott, sp. n. . Antennule, male. . Abdomen and caudal furca, male Stenothocheres egregius, Han. . Side view, female Dorsal view, female . Antennule, female . Antenna, female . . Foot of first pair . Foot of second pair Spheronella minuta, T. Scott, sp. n. . Female, side view . Female, dorsal view . Antennule . First maxilliped . . Second maxilliped Diam. x 26°5. elt), x os ay, 7). BBY ee 7M), eg 7 XGeDoe a 7) x 97. Xo: x 64. x 106. Xedos x 130. x 64. x 2293 x iegoe x 59. x 106. By 593), poate! <7): Xeaoos oes a ale xe7sile ~ Sis x 781. x 106. x 106. x 781. x 7818 x Wels x Ww = < a a = = —— ; Nail aed bi SO ns ah tae y a-~ po ait e Se gp 3 a a} wats " a PLATE XIV. ne gee ee | Ww te => PLATE Xv, - i ca ee Ps + LU > \s ea) lee ae ri 4 é . ‘ \ > Pa \ \ i ‘ 30. 36. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. Spheronella paradoxa, Han. . Female, side view . Female, dorsal view . Antennule . Maxilliped Spheronella callisome, T. Scott, sp. n. . Female, side view . Female, dorsal view . Antennule . Antenna . . Mandible. . Maxilla : . First maxilliped . . Second maxilliped Spheronella cluthe, T. Scott, sp. n. . Female, side view . Female, dorsal view . Second maxilliped Spheronella pygmea, T. Scott, sp. n. . Female, side view . Female, dorsal view . First Maxilliped . Second Maxilliped Spheronella amphilochi, Han. Female, side view Antennule of the same . CE a PoF ore Mead eS) enh Pas x XX Cates) PAS PAS 262 Part II[.—Twenty-second Annual Report V.— REPORT ON THE OPERATIONS AT THE MARINE HATCHERY, BAY OF NIGG, ABERDEEN, By Dr. T. Wemyss Fuuron, F.R.S.E., Superintendent of Scientific Investigations. During the season of 1903 the operations on the hatching of plaice were continued on a considerable scale as in previous years, and under the same conditions as are described in preceding reports. It need only be stated that the supply of fertilised eggs is obtained, not by stripping the ripe fishes of their eggs and milt, as is done in some other marine fish hatcheries, but by retaining the fishes from season to season in a large tidal pond, feeding them, and at the spawning season simply collecting the eggs from the water by appropriate means, and trans- ferring them to the hatching apparatus. For this method, a large retaining pond is necessary, and the one constructed at the Bay of Nigg has answered its purpose admirably, the fishes remaining in it throughout the year in good health and supplying their eggs at the proper period with a minimum of trouble to the attendants, and with good results in regard to the success of incubation. One of the consequences of this system which contrasts with the condition at Dunbar, where the fishes were merely retained in the pond for some time before the spawning began, is that spawning goes on for a much longer time than used to be the case under the former system. It begins earlier and may continue longer, the dates varying with the temperature to some extent, but the extent of the season is always greater. Thus at Dunbar the collection of eggs did not as a rule com- mence till March, the principal reason being that the fishes had not had time to become accustomed to their restraint in confinement after being placed in the pond, and they retained their eggs instead of spawning in a natural way, very often with fatal results, as described in previous reports. In point of fact they did not spawn until they had become accustomed to the conditions in which they were placed. The respective dates for the beginning of the spawning at Dunbar and at the Bay of Nigg are as follows :— 9th March to 8th May = _ 60 days 23rd March ,, 23rd May = 61 ,, Sth March 3, Sth May = 61>), 22nd February ,, llth May = 78 ,, 15th February ,, 7th May = 81 ,, 10th March ,,; 29th April= 50 ,, 10th March ,, Sth May = 56 ,, 22nd January ,, 2ndMay = 100 ,, 8th February ,, 25th April= 76 ,, 23rd January ,, 16th May = 113 ,, It will be observed that the mean duration of the spawning process at Dunbar owing to this delay in its commencement was sixty-five days, while at the Bay of Nigg the mean duration has been eighty-six days, or twenty-one days longer. In the first season at the Bay of Nigg the hatchery was not ready in time, and in the third season the beginning of spawning was delayed by cold, though the termination, which was of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 263 earlier than usual, was natural. The ordinary duration of the spawning season of the plaice appears to be about the longer periods, extending over three full months and part of other two—and the observation is of some importance in fishery investigations. Eggs were observed in small numbers a few days before the regular collection began, and a few were found after the date when the collection ceased. The total number of eggs secured from the pond by means of tow-nets was about 65,940,000, the eggs being measured in a vessel of known capacity and the number thus estimated. Spawning took place for the most part in March, the numbers of eggs secured in the various months being as follows :— January, - - - 240,000 February, : - - 11,840,000 March, - . . - 37,080,000 April, - - - - 15,900,000 May, - - - - 880,000 In some years the bulk of the spawning occurs in the early part of April. On some mornings in March last year as much as five gallons of eggs were taken from the pond. Of the number of eggs collected 81 per cent. were hatched, and the remainder succumbed at one stage or another in the apparatus; there is reason to suspect that some of the eggs which are lost in this way are not fertilised, a tendency having been shown to economise the space in the pond by having in it an unduly large proportion of females at the expense of the number of males. The estimated number of fry which were hatched and kept fora period in the apparatus was 53,600,000, and they were afterwards placed in the sea, most of them being liberated a few miles off Aberdeen, by means of a fishing yawl. At the request of the line-fishermen further up the coast a number were set free on three occasions oft Fraserburgh, the total distributed there being about 16,000,000. The particulars as to the distribution of the fry and the details as to the numbers of eggs collected throughout the season are given in the tables appended, which also show the variations in the temperature and the specific gravity of the water in the spawning pond and on the beach. The number of fishes kept in the pond to act as the breeding stock was as usual supplemented in autumn by others caught by means of trawlers and brought alive to the hatchery in large tubs; for there is always a certain amount of natural mortality among them, particularly during the summer. The plaice, as hitherto, were fed on mussels, which are usually removed from their shells, but are sometimes enly crushed. The ponds and apparatus, which have been described in preceding annual reports, continue to serve their purpose well, and the water supply, both in regard to temperature, density, and purity, is very suitable for the work. The only changes that have been made in the arrangements consist in the removal of the water tumbling-box from the inside of the hatchery, where it was served with the incoming water, to the outside, where it is now operated by the out-flowing water. The box is necessary to provide the motive power to the Dannevig hatching apparatus, and it was found to interfere to some extent with the pressure of the water to one side of the hatchery and thus to retard the supply. Also by the fitting up of the tank-house for scientific experiments it was found necessary to divert a portion of the water from the reservoir tank for this purpose, and the change necessitated a little more pumping early in the mornings. 264 Part III —Twenty-second Annual Report The question of attempting to rear the fry on a fairly large scale has been considered. It not unfrequently happens that at the end of the hatching season young metamorphosed plaice are found in some part of the apparatus, which have succeeded in passing the post-larval stages, although it is not easy to get such forms when it is attempted to rear them. The difficulty is in providing a supply of suitable food, and it is proposed to utilise a tank to act as a receptacle for spawning inverte- brates, so that the water, enriched with the embryos and larve may be used to supply the young fishes. For a few years the placing of the fry in Loch Fyne has been inter- mitted, and they have been distributed, as described, along the coast of Aberdeenshire. The reason for doing so is in order to enable observa- tions as to the abundance of young plaice on the beaches in Loch Fyne to be made under natural conditions, without artificially reared fry being placed there in the same season, and the push-net examination of these beaches is being continued each summer. The fry were originally taken to Loch Fyne without such observations having been made beforehand, and there were therefore no data for comparing the abun- dance of the young plaice in the years in which the fry were put into the Loch. From the natural fluctuations which take place with fish everywhere, it is obvious that it is desirable to have observations carried on long enough to be able to distinguish one cause of fluctuation from the other, just as in cases where the influence of a method of fishing, or of stopping it, requires to be tested in the same way. During the hatching season the hatchery was visited by deputations of fishermen from the coast of Aberdeen, as in previous years, at the request of the Technical Education Committee of the County Council, and they received demonstrations as to the processes employed. [ TABLES. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 265 TABLE I.—Showing the Daily Progress of the Hatching Operations, as well as the Temperature and the Specific Gravity of Water in the Pond, and on the Beach. | Jan. Date. 20 Or oo co iw) e Voy fey CN tery Number of Eggs Collected. 60,000 40,000 20,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 120,000 40,000 120,000 280,000 40,000 200,000 400,000 200,000 320,000 160,000 320,000 200,000 480,000 560,000 480,000 600,000 800,000 Number of Eggs found Dead in Boxes. 60,000 80,000 120,000 260,000 Number of Fry put out. Total Stock in Boxes. 60,000 100,000 120,000 160,000 200,000 240,000 240,000 360,000 400,000 520,000 800,000 730,000 980,000 980,000 1,380,000 1,580,000 1,820,000 1,980,000 2,300,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 2,360,000 3,420,000 3,900,000 4,500,000 5,300,000 5,040,000 The Sea Pond at Noon. The Sea Water in the | Water on the Beach at Noon. 266 Date. Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report Number of Eggs Collected. 1,320,000 880,000 320,000 1,240,000 880,000 1,160,000 720,000 1,680,000 1,200,000 1,040,000 1,160,000 980,000 960,000 1,720,000 1,600,000 1,280,000 960,000 1,320,000 1,440,000 2,000,000 2,360,000 1,160,000 1,200,000 2,060,000 3,500,000 1,280,000 1,520,000 TABLE I.—continued. Number of _ Eggs found Dead in Boxes. 100,000 140,000 320,000 380,000 220,000 480,000 270,000 220,000 330,000 360,000 260,000 460,000 360,000 400,000 320,000 220,000 Number of | mo441 Stock Fry put out. 4,000,000 3,800,000 in Boxes. 6,360,000 7,240,000 7,560,000 8,700,000 9,580,000 10,600,000 11,320,000 11,320,000 12,680,000 13,880,000 14,920,000 16,080,000 16,680,000 17,420,000 17,420,000 19,140,000 20,260,000 21,540,000 22,230,000 28,550,000 24,770,000 24,770,000 22,440,000 22,440,000 24,440,000 25,340,000 22,280,000 24,340,000 23,980,000 27,080,000 28,040,000 29,340,000 The Sea The Sea Water in the} Water on the Pond Beach at Noon. at Noon. emp.|Sp. gr.iTemp.|Sp. gr. Cent. Cent. 5197272 5:9" 27-0 4°8 | 27°3 | 5:7 | 27:0 4°4 | 27-2 | 5-4 | 27:1 46 | 273 7 5 27°0 4-4 | 27:4 | 5:3 4:5 | 27:2 | 5:0 | 27:2 4:6 | 27-2 | 5:1 4°38 | 27:3 | 5:0 | 27:0 AST 27cm vO-Om eaten 4-4°| 27-2 | 5:0 | 2770 A380) :27:1 53) 2768 4:6 | 27-2 | 5:2 | 27:0 4°8 | 27:2 | 5-1 | 27:0 4-9 27-0 5:0 | 2771 5°0 | 27°4 | 51 | 27:0 4:8 | 27°3 | 5:1 | 27:9 5:0!) 27:5 I S25) 27 AT) | 212 WD On| ere 49 | 27:5 | 5:14) 27-2 5b | 27:4 | 5:3 27-0 Brot | 27:4 || bo eT 52 2r3 | bo ieziee 5't | 27:4 | 5:1 | 27:0 5-0 | 27-2 | 5-4 | 27-0 5-2 | 27-4 | 5:2 | 27:2 5:6) 1) 27s5 1) vos 70 5:5) | 2id bz 54 | 27:5 | 5:4 | 27-1 59 | 27°6 | 5:2 | 27:3 62 | 27:4 | 5:4 | 27-4 6:0 | 27°3 | 5:8 | 27-2 5:8 278 1 08 1 2k Date. April 1 9 4 C55 (CON ST Ope Oxy ee 109. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. TABLE I.—continued. 267 Number of Eggs Collected. 1,220,000 | 1,240,000 | 1,960,000 2,240,000 2,040,000 | | 1,560,000 | 1,040,000 | 1,960,000 1,160,000 560,000 800,000 720,000 1,220,000 440,000 400,000 400,000 800,000 440,000 340,000 400,000 400,000 820,000 Number of Eggs found Dead in Boxes. 260,000 320,000 280,000 450,000 340,000 420,000 520,000 280,000 4£0,000 300,000 470,000 320,000 280,000 400,000 320,000 240,000 260,000 340,000 Bhatia of Total Stock put out, 4,300,000 4,000,000 6,000,000 8,000,000 4,400,000 in Boxes. 26,000 26,920 26,640,000 28,600,000 28,150,000 30,050,000 26,050,000 27,670,000 27,670,000 28,710,000 2,750,000 23,470,000 22,990,000 24,650,000 25,810,000 25,900,000 26,700,000 27,420,000 27,100,000 28,320 000 20,480,000 20,880,000 20,880,000 20,880,000 21,360,000 17,400,000 17,500,000 17,640,000 18,040,000 18,040,000 17,700,000 18,520,000 The Sea The Sea Water in the {Water on the Pond Beach at Noon, at Noon. Temp.|Sp. gr.Temp.|Sp. gr. Cent. 6:0 | 27°2 27°3 6:2 | 27:3 271 64 | 27°5 272 6:3 | 27-4 27°5 6-1 | 27-2 27°3 6:2 | 27°6 27-4 6-4 | 27:3 27°3 61 | 27:1 27°0 6°6 | 27°4 272 64 | 27°5 271 6-1 | 27°3 27-4 6°4 | 27°6 27°3 7:0 | 27:3 272 72 | 27-4 27°0 6°8 | 27°7 27°3 7:0 | 27°8 27°0 6°8 | 27°6 27 °4 65 | 27-4 27'8 6:0 | 27°5 27°3 59 | 27°8 27°4 54 | 27°4 272 Sel 276 27°7 5:0 | 27°3 27°4 4:8 |. 27:2 272 4°9 | 27°4 5:0 | 27°3 5°8 | 27°4 27°2 6°4 | 27°6 275 6°6 | 27°5 27°3 268 Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report TABLE I.—continued. The Sea The Sea Water in the} Water on the Number of ahi Date. dees o found a Fi ey Lege iT eeoe rae * | in Boxes, : Temp.|Sp. gr. Temp.|Sp. gr. Cent. Cent. April 27 Bl 180,000 18,340,000} 6:3 | 27°8 | 6:1 | 27:3 Bhi 4s) 18,340,000} 6:0 | 27:°5 | 6:2 | 27:5 3 29 wes 160,000 18,180,000 6:4 | 27°3 | 6:2 | 27:2 » 30 400,000 ve 7,300,000 } 11,281,000 May 1 11,281,000 WZ 11,281,000 TO 400,000 11,680,000 Rae ee 160,000 11,520,000 of 300,000 11,820,000 Hee 11,820,000 ny. Ob 6,500,000} 6,320,000} 7:0 | 27:2 | 7:3 een 6,820,000} 7:6 | 27:3 | 7:4 » 9 6,820,000 8:0 | 27:5 | 7:2 SLO 60,000 140,000 6,240,000} 8:4 | 271] 76 5p al 6,240,000} 8:3 | 27:2 | 7-7 ap att 60,000 6,180,000} 7:5 | 27:3 | 7:2 ,, 13] 60,000 6,240,000] 81 | 27:5 | 7-4 ek! a08 a 4,300,000 } 1,940,000% 8°8 | 27:4 | 7°6 ap Als 40,000 1,980,000 f 8:6 | 27:2 | 7:3 FLO 20,000 2,000,000} 91 | 27:4 | 7:8 ren UE as kt 5p AY “ih i 2,000,000 Totals, | 65,940,000 | 12,340,000 "53,600,000 of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 269 TABLE 11.—Showing particulars in connection with the Distribution of Fry. pe btier acceso ommacdiatiays [ucoeent Woes at a eae », 20] Three miles off Girdleness, as Fair. 3,800,000 », 26] Off Aberdeen Bay, between three and 5:37 tc 4,300,000 four miles, April 1] In Aberdeen Bay, three and a half miles Hae ae 4,000,000 off. op 6 | Off Fraserburgh, two miles off Lighthouse. 56° =, 6,000,000 », 15) Off Fraserburgh, outside the breakwater. A Sea rough. 8,000,000 », 20} About two miles off Aberdeen. 59° Be 4,400,000 ., 30)| About three miles off Aberdeen. = ies 7,300,000 May 7 | Three and a haif miles off Girdleness, 62° as 5,500,000 ,, 14}! About three and a half miles off Aberdeen eos oe 4,300,000 Bay. ;, 20) Fraserburgh, about two and a half miles ale Wind light. 2,000, 000 off, 270 Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report VI.—ON THE POST-LARVAL AND EARLY YOUNG STAGES OF THE WITCH (PLEURONECTES CYNOGLOSSUS, Liyy.). By H. Cas. Wiuuramson, M.A., D.Sc., Marine Laboratory, Aber- deen. (Plate XVI.) A very complete series of post-larval and young witches has been - collected by Dr. Fulton and these he has handed to me for descrip- tion. This form is especially interesting in that it has a very long post-larval period; it reaches a large size before it takes up a bottom habitat, ze. before its transformation from a bilaterally symmetrical fish to a flat-fish, Drawings of eight post-larval and two young stages are shown in Plate XVI. Anextended and detailed description is not necessary, as these serve sufficiently to indicate the general form and the arrangement of the black pigmentation so far as the latter has survived preservation. All of the specimens had been preserved ina solution of formaline in seawater. Cunningham* was the first to observe the larva of the witch, and his description may be here incorporated. He says— ‘The larva is not different from that of the other species cf Plewronectes ; its length is 3°9mm.; there is no pigment in the eye; a number of very minute points are scattered down the sides.” About 48 ares after hatching, “the length is now increased to5‘9mm. . . . 3 the median fin-fold is much wider; the eye is slightly pigmented, and pigment is largely developed in the skin of the body ; the cutaneous chromatophores form five well-marked transverse stripes arranged in longitudinal series along the sides, three of them on the tail, are in the region of the rectum, and one about the pectoral fin.” Holt? gives a more detailed account of the larva and early post-larva. The additional particulars which he furnishes are the following :—The larva, hatched from an egg captured in the sea, “had pigment of a pale chrome colour by reflected light, and of a dark yellow by transmitted light. This extended over the head, eye, and throughout the trunk and free caudal region,and over the yolk . . . . Inthe nextstage black pigment is associated with the yellow, and also appears independently along the margin of the dorsal fin. Ina ee two days old, hatched from artificially fertilized eggs the length is 55mm. We now find a change in the arrangement of the pigment, which is broken up into three distinct bars in the post-anal region. Moreover, the yellow pigment now exhibits a greenish colour by transmitted light.” A drawing of an early post-larval stage (derived from artificially fertilized eggs) ten days after hatching accompanies the following description :—‘‘ The eyes are black, with a bluish lustre ; the lower jaw is very prominent, the pectorals very large, the otocysts large. The post-anal region is very slender, especially the part ventral to the notochord ; the latter is very stout. The urocyst is larger than before. A ventral patch of black chromatophores has appeared midway between each post-anal pigment bar. The most anterior bar, that in the region of the pectoral fins, has lost its distinction, Pigment is absent from the dorsal fin in this region, whilst there has taken place a considerable development of pig- ment in the lower jaw and anterior ventral region ; the coloured pigment * Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh, xxxiii., Pt. I., 1887. t Se. Trans. Roy. Dublin Soctety (2), iv., 1893. of the Fishery Board for Scotiand. 271 is now orange by transmitted light, except in the median fin, where it is brown” (Holt . Previous to the publication of the paper just referred to, Petersen* had described a post-larval pleuronectid measuring 32mm. in length. He considered it to bea Halibut (Hippoglossus vulgaris), Kylet and Holt and . Byrne have recently described post-larval stages of the witch, and these agree closely with Petersen’s form, which is apparently really a witch. It has, moreover, the spinous armature of the operculum to which Holt and Byrne draw special attention.§ The fin-ray formule for these specimens were as follows :—Petersen’s—Dorsal, ca, 104; Anal, 88; Caudal, 82. Kyle’s specimens (two in number)—Dorsal, 103 (105); Anal, 83, 85 ; Caudal, 18. Holt and Bryne—Dorsal, 108; Anal, 95. The post-larval witch is a characteristic form which cannot be con- founded with any other known species. Its main characters are its long and narrow post-anal body ; the well-marked triple-bar arrangement of pigment on the same ; the prominent head and snout, and its extended transforma- tion period. Kyle in this connection says, in referring to the two examples, 12 and 14mm. long respectively, described by him, that their ‘most striking features, in addition to their length and relative thinness, are the long head, the projecting snout, with the deep depression over the eyes, and the early stage of metamorphosis.” In Dr. Fulton’s collection the largest post-larval (7.e. pelagic) witch measures 40mm., while the smallest young witch (7.e. transformed) measures 44mm. Holt describes one of the latter which measured 42mm. The only other pleuronectid of our waters which approaches the witch in having a lengthy post-larval period is the Lemon Sole (Pleuronectes microcephalus). Post-larve of this form have been found measuring 27mm. (Holt), but the general shape of the pelagic stages of this species is very different from that of the witch ; the outline of the former is oval, whereas that of the latter is elongated. The witches from which the drawings were made exhibited black pig- ment only. The pigment other than black has disappeared since they were preserved; and in some cases the black pigment has faded consider- ably. This probably accounts for the fact that some variation on the pigmentation is found in the forms described, especially as regards the marginal fin. The outer edge of the marginal fin was, moreover, some- times frayed, and in consequence the presence of pigment there was not in these cases determined. It is hoped that the sketches here supplied will aid in the diagnosis of preserved examples. A number of the drawings are of natural size; the majority are enlarged, It is sufficient to note that the post-larval char- acters are constant ; the general form, which is more readily indicated by the sketches than by a word-picture, is, when taken along with the bar arrangement, sufficient to indicate the species. A brief note will be given of each of the stages illustrated. The first (Fig. la) is an early post-larval example, measuring in total length 5:'2mm., in greatest breadth °75mm. It has the typical pleuronectid form, viz. a short abdomen and a long post-anal region. The marginal fin shows no trace of fin-rays ; the caudal fin is still diphycercal. The pigment is well marked. At the point of the mandible-there are a few black pigment spots, and in the pectoral region there is a ventral group of spots. On the hind dorsal area of the abdomen a group of large chromatophores is visible, and along the keel of the abdomen there is a * Report of the Danish Biological Station, iv., 1893. + Journal of the Marine Biological Association, vol. vi., No. 4, Dec. 1908. { Report on the Sea and Inland Fisheries of Ireland, 1901, Pt. 11., Dublin, 1903. § Dr, Petersen has informed me that he is satisfied that the form is a witch. 272 Part [II.—Twenty-second Annual Report row of similar pigment corpuscles. The eyes are black. The post-anal region is marked by three main transverse bars of chromatophores ; they are equi-distant from one another. Each bar consists of a dorsal and a ventral moiety. The hindmost is in the region of the future caudal fin, and is large. Between the bars there are three pigment groups situated ventrally on the edge of the muscle-segments ; they may be termed secon- dary groups, in contradistinction to the main broad bars. Of the post-anal pigment groups just mentioned, the hind main bar alone extends on to the marginal fin. Only one pigment spot was, in addition, found on the marginal fin; it was situated on the ventral fin. A ventral view of this post-larva is shown in Fig, 1b. In Fig. 2 a specimen similar in size to one of those described by Kyle is reproduced. It measures 12°5mm. in length, and in greatest breadth reaches about 3mm. A greater amount of pigment is found in this individual than in the preceding. Along the ventral edge of the muscle- segments in the post-anal region a few more intermediate or secondary pigment spots are seen, and some pigment was made out on the ventral marginal fin in large and small spots. Anterior to the anus the condition of the preceding specimen holds. The caudal pigment is now diffuse ; the caudal fin-rays are being laid down and the tail region is becoming heterocercal, The rudiments of the interspinous bones are indicated by a somewhat opaque part of the marginal fin, next the muscle-segments. The interspinous bones, still very small, are to be made out in the next figure (3), a drawing of a post-larva measuring 14mm. in length and 5mm. in greatest breadth. In this specimen the large pigment corpuscles on the hind part of the optic lobes were prominent. A natural-size sketch of this post-larva is given in Fig. 9. A witch 18mm. in length is reproduced in Fig. 4. The fin-rays are now almost completely formed, and the tail is nearly homocercal in character. A row of small pigment spots along the junction of the ventral interspinous bones and the fin-rays is made out. In Fig. 5 all the interspinous bones and the fin-rays are formed. This example is of the same size as the specimen recorded by Holt and Byrne. In length it measures 25mm., in greatest breadth it reaches 7°5mm. The fin-ray formula is—Dorsal, about 110: Anal, about 95; Caudal, 22. Fig. 7a is an enlarged drawing of a witch measuring 34mm. In it the pigment was not very prominent ; it had probably faded. A post-larval form, measuring 38mm., is shown in Fig. 12. Trans- formation is not yet completed. A drawing of the left side of the head of this example appears in Fig. 8. A completely metamorphosed witch, measuring 44mm., is reproduced in Fig. 13. Holt described one which was a little smaller, viz. 42mm. The migration of the left eye to the right side of the fish is a slow process. In the fish measuring 25mm. it has moved to a noticeable extent. It then appears a little above the ridge, when the fish is viewed from the right side (Fig. 5). In the large post-larva, 38mm. (Fig. 12), the eye is on the ridge; in another, measuring 40mm., the migration was not completed (Figs. 6a and 6b). Dr. Fulton examined the last-mentioned specimen (40mm. long) shortly after it was killed in formaline. He found that the only pigment then visible was black. It was distributed as follows:—On the snout and jaw there was a collection of little specks; on the front of the lower jaw a like collection. A group of spots was present on the optic lobes, while a broad band of spots was conspicuous on the hind part of the abdomen. On the median line there were, on the post-anal body, six equi-distant pigment patches. The dorsal interspinous region showed eight fainter patches, while five or six similar patches were seen on the ventral interspinous region. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 273 During the post-larval period the pigment on the two sides of the body remains practically identical. It is only in the larger specimens, e.g. 38mm., that it is possible to detect a lighter shade of pigment on the left side than on the right. With the transformation, however, a very marked difference is noted (Fig. 13). The fish itself becomes more opaque, and its upper surface (the previous right side), shows a large quantity of pigment. Posterior to the anus there are on the upper surface seven broad patches across the median line of the body ; on the dorsal fin there are five broad patches with intermediate smaller patches, and on the ventral fin three broad patches with smaller intermediate groups. The under or blind side, however, retains the post-larval pigmentation ; in this case it resembled that found in the post-larva measuring 38mm. (Fig. 2). Holt and Byrne draw attention to the presence of spines on the operculum of the post-larve. I have found tbis spinous armature in the example measuring 12°5mm. (Fig. 2). In the preceding specimen, 5'2mm. (Fig. 1), it was not made out. It was found in all the succeeding post-larval witches, and the spines were equally developed on both sides of the body. The sketches indicate with approximate accuracy the number and arrangement of them. In the metamorphosed example, 44mm. long (Fig. 13), teeth were found on the operculum. Two large teeth projected from the posterior part of the operculum, and dorsal to these three were two (or three) other similar teeth. They were equally developed on both sides of the fish. No spines were made out on the operculum of either side in the young witch measuring 59mm. in length. Small teeth (in the jaws) were made out in the smallest member of the series, and they were present in all the other post-larval stages. 'I‘hey are not numerous. Teeth were not seen in the smaller bottom form, LITERATURE. CunNINGHAM.—‘‘The Eggs and Larve of Teleosteans,” Trans. Roy. Soc., Edinburgh, vol. xxxiii., Pt. I., p. 97 (Plates I. to VII.). 1887. CunnINGHAM.—‘‘ Marketable Marine Fishes.” London, 1896. Hotr.—‘‘ On the Eggs, Larval and Post-larval Stages of Teleosteans,” Sc. Trans. Roy. Dublin Society, ser. 2, iv., p. 455, Plates I. to XV. 1893. Hott AND Byrne.—‘‘On a Young Stage of the White Sole (Plewronectes cynoglossus),” Report on the Sea and Inland Fisheries of Ireland for 1901, Pt. II., p. 67, Plate III. Dublin, 1903. Kyie.—‘‘ Halibut (ippoglossus vulgaris, Flem.) or Pole-Dab (Pleuronectes cynoglossus,” Journal of the Marine Biological Association, vol. vi., No. 4., Dec. 1903, p. 618, 1 plate. M‘IntosH AND Prince.—‘‘On the Development and Life-Histories of the Teleostean Food and other Fishes,” Trans. Roy. Socy., Edinburgh, Vol. xxxv., Part III. (No. 19), Plates I. to XXVIII. M‘IntosH AND MastERMAN.—‘‘ British Marine Food-fishes.” London, 1897. PETERSEN.—‘‘ On some Zoological Characters of Young (Post-larval) Flat-fishes,” Report of the Danish Biological Station, iv., Appendix IL., 2 plates, p. 126. Copenhagen, 1893. 274 Part 111.—Twenty-second Annual Report EXPLANATION OF PLATE XVI. N.B.—No attempt has been made in the drawings to insert the proper number of interspinous bones and fin rays. Fig. la. Post-larval, Pleuronectes cynoglossus, 52mm. long; “75mm. ig.) Ub: Dots do., Fig. 2. Do., do., Fig. 3 Do., do., Fig. 4. Do., do., Fig. 5 Do., do., Fig. 6a. Head of post-larval, do., Fig. 60. do., Fig. 7. Post-larval, do., Fig. 8. Do., do., Rico: Do., do., Fig. 10. Do., do., Fig. 11. Do., do., Fig. 12. Do., do., Fig. 13. Young, do., Fig. 14. Do., do., greatest breadth, . x do., ventral view. 12‘5mm. long ; 3mm. greatest breadth, d ESN 14mm. long; 3mm. greatest breadth, P aPerx 18mm. long; 5mm. greatest breadth, ; ane 25mm: long ; 7°5mm. greatest breadth, . : eS 40mm. long ; right side, x 40mm. long ; left side, x 34mm. long; 13mm. greatest breadth, : x 38mm. long: left side, x 14mm. long, natural size. 28mm. long, do. 34mm. long, do. 38mm. long, do. 44mm. long, do. 59mm. long, do. ca ca ca ca ca Ca ca ca ca 19 loror kor) or) oO or) F. B. REPORT. 1904. PLATE XVI. AM uti / YT) Ps) \ | Vif, Las)» y aa} . H.C. W. Figs. 9-14. A. H. Waker. Tar Witen—Pleuronects cynoglossus. ral ma) W J ' aa i \ oa \ } } - of the Fishery Board for Scotland, 275 VIIL—ON SOME PARASITES OF FISHES NEW TO THE SCOT- TISH MARINE FAUNA. By Tuomas Scott, LL.D., F.LS. Plate XVII. CONTENTS. PAGE Preliminary Note, . : : : : : t . 275 Part I. Copepoda Parasita— Fam. Dichelestide,. , : é ; 2 : <1 20 Part II. Trematoda— Fam, Tristomatide, 278 Part III. Note on a Post-larval Fish attacked by Podon Leuckarti, . 279 Description of the Plates, . : é ; . ; : ; . 280 PRELIMINARY NOTE. Some time ago Dr Fulton, Scientific Superintendent to the Fishery Board, kindly handed to me for examination aspecimen of Trygon Pas Bee, Lin., Which had been captured in the Dornoch Firth on October 22, 1903. This specimen measured about 144 inches across the pectoral fins and about 244 inches from the nose to the extremity of the very slender tail; it was thus not more than about the average size of this kind of fish, yet it yielded on examination no fewer than four different species of ectozoa. Two of these species belong to the Copepoda and two to the Trematoda, and only one of them, viz., Brachiella pastinace, van Beneden, appears to have been previously described. Descriptions and drawings of these apparently new forms are given here. . Moreover, while examining some organisms set aside from former collections, I found a specimen of Lerneea lusci, Bassett-Smith, obtained off Aberdeen in January, 1902; as this parasite has not before been recorded from Scottish waters, I have had a short description, with drawings of it, prepared for this paper. I have further to state that at the end of this paper will be found a description and drawing of a very curious Natural History group consist- ing of a larval fish, somewhat emaciated, and two small Crustaceans, which appear to be attacking the fish ; for this interesting specimen I am indebted to my friend and colleague, Dr Henry Charles Williamson. The drawings have been prepared by my son, Mr A. Scott, A.L.S. I propose to describe the various organisms mentioned in the order in which they are referred to above. PART I.—COPEPODA PARASITA. Fam. DICcHELESTID. Genus Hudactylina, van Beneden (1853). Eudactylina minuta, T. Scott. Pl. xvii., figs, 111. Description of the Female.—The length of the specimen represented by the drawing (fig.1), measuring from the forehead to the end of the furcal 276 Part I11—Twenty-second Annual Report joints, is about 1-lmm.(about 54 of an inch), but that represented by figure 2 is slightly larger, and measures about 14mm. The segments, especially along their dorsal aspect, are rough with minute scattered spines. The body is slender, as in the species previously described, but the fourth and fifth segments are rather more dilated than the others. The cephalosome is about equal in length to that of the first two segments of the metasome combined. The first segment of the metasome is a small one, while the next two are each rather longer and stouter than the one immediately preceding ; the last segment of the metasome is considerably smaller than the third one. The segmentation of the urosome (abdomen) somewhat resembles that of Hudactylina similis, A. Scott. The antennules, which are short and stout, are apparently five-jointed, as in those of the species referred to, and their armature is also similar to that of Hudactylina similis, but, on the other hand, there is a distinct difference in the proportional lengths of the joints,—the third being longer than the second joint and the fourth scarcely twice as long as the ultimate one (fig. 3). The antenne, which are moderately elongated, have a general resemblance in their form and structure to those of the other described species; but the second joint, which is about as long as the third, is produced on the inner aspect and near the distal end so as to form a single stout and prominent spine, and a single powerful hook-like spine with a thickened base carrying a few small sete is articulated to the extremity of the third joint (fig. 4). The mandibles and maxille do not present any marked difference from those of Hudactylina acuta, van Beneden. The first maxillipeds, which resemble the same appendages in Hudacty- lina similis, are armed with a moderately stout terminal claw, and the end joint is furnished with a row of minute course denticles along the inner edge (fig. 5). The second maxillipeds are large and strong and,form powerful chele; they are somewhat similar in structure to those of Hudactylina similis, but the extremity of the claw which impinges against the lower spoon-like process has the stout apical tooth with a rounded hood-like covering (fig. 6). In the first pair of thoracic feet both branches are two-jointed, and both are moderately stout; the inner branches are sparingly fringed with minute sete, and armed with two apical spines of unequal length; the outer branches, which are rather shorter than the inner, are each furnished with a fringe of minute sete on the outer margin of the first joint, while the end joint bears several spines round its outer margin and apex ; the inner spine is of moderate length, but the others are small (fig. 7). The structure of the second pair has a general resemblance to that of the same pair in Hudactylina similis and E. acuta, The inner branches, which are distinctly three-jointed, are considerably smaller than the outer ones, the first joint bears a longitudinal row of small spines on its inner aspsct, while the end joint carries two apical spines of moderate but unequal length. The outer branches are stout and elongated, and, like the inner ones, appear to consist of three joints, but the articulation between the first and second joints is apparently nearly obsolete; two short spines which have their bases dilated spring from the outer margin and near the distal end of the elongated first joint ; the third joint, which is short and rounded at the extremity, is provided with a single and moderately stout subter- minal spine, as shown in the drawing (fig. 8). The third and fourth pairs are nearly alike, and resemble the same two pairs in Ludactylina similis, except that the inner branches are furnished with a number of scattered spinules on their outer aspect; the outer branches are each of them rounded at the extremity, and provided with of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 277 a single elongated terminal seta, there are a few spines on the outer margins of the second and third joints, while the first joint bears a fringe of minute spines along its outer edge (fig. 9). The fifth pair, which are broadly foliaceous and resemble in their general outline the same appendages in Hudactylina acuta, van Beneden, are furnished with several transverse rows of minute spines and three apical sete (fig. 10). The fureal joints, which are rather longer than the last abdominal seg- ment, are each of them armed with two terminal spines—a stout one at the apex and a somewhat smaller one on the outer edge, as shown in the figure; a small seta springs also from near the middle of the outer margin (fig. 11), Habitat.—On the gills of a specimen of the “Sting Ray,” Trygon pastinaca, Linn., captured in the Dornoch Firth on October 22, 1903. No males of the Hudactylina were observed. The fish, as already stated, measured about 143 inches across the pectoral fins, while its length from the snout to the extremity of the tail is about 244 inches. Remarks.—This Hudactylina appears to differ from previously described species by its smaller size—being little more than half the length of the smallest hitherto recorded, and from its being found on a different host. But there are also structural differences which separate it from other forms. I will recapitulate one or two of these: it differs in the proportional lengths of the joints of the antennules, in the armature of the antenne, in the armature of the first maxillipeds, in the structure of the second pair of thoracic feet, and in the proportional lengths of the segments of the thorax. Though a number of specimens were obtained, only a small proportion of them were in good condition for dissection. Eudactylina acuta, Van Beneden. 1853. Hudactylina acuta, Van Beneden, Bull. Acad. Roy. Belg., vol. xx., pt. 1, p. 235; Mem. Acad. Roy. Belg. (1861), p. [50 Bh xxv. In my notes on the parasites of fishes in Part III. of the Twentieth Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland (published October 2nd, 1902), I describe the occurrence of Hudactylina acuta on the gills of an Angel-fish, Rhina squatina (Lin.), captured in January 1902 about eight or nine miles south-east from Bychan Ness, and the description of the parasite is illustrated by a series of drawings. My son had already obtained the same EZudactyline on the gills of Angel-fishes captured in the Irish Sea, but there did not appear to have been any previous record of it from Scotland. Through the kindness of Mr. Robert Duthie, Fishery Officer—presently stationed at Girvan, Ayrshire—I am enabled to record this interesting parasite for the second time from Scottish waters, which, like the speci- mens previously referred to, was found on the gills of an Angel-fish. This fish, which was captured by turbot-net fishermen in the seaward part of the Clyde estuary and landed at Girvan on May 25th (1904), was secured by Mr. Duthie, who kindly forwarded it to me for examination. The fish was an immature female, and measured two feet nine and a-half inches (nearly 83 centimetres) from the front of the head to the extremity of the caudal fin. This Hwudactyline is an addition to the parasitic Copepod-fauna of the Clyde. Lernea lusci, Bassett-Smith. Pl. xvii., figs. 12 and 13. 1896. Lerncea lusci, Bassett-Smith, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (6), vol. xvili., p. 13, pl. iv., fig. 6. The form described under this name is considerably smaller than the 278 Part ITT.—Twenty-second Annual Report more common Lerneea branchialis, and hitherto it appears only to have been observed on the gills of the Brassie or Whiting Pout (Gadus luscus, Linn.). The specimen I have to record was obtained on the gills of a Brassie captured about ten miles off Aberdeen on January 16, 1901. This parasite measures a little over half an inch from the head to the end of the genital segment. The neck is slender and short, and the append- ages of the cephalon are moderately developed. Jr. Bassett-Smith describes the posterior appendage as being sometimes as long as the neck, which is also characteristic of the specimen now recorded (fig. 13). The genital segment is considerably dilated and strongly sigmoid, except at the posterior end where, in marked contrast to Lernea branchialis, it is only slightly curved ; the twisted egg sacs are proportionally not so slender as in that species. Lernea lusci does not appear to have hitherto been recorded from Scottish waters, having been probably regarded as a form of L. branchialis. Figure 12 shows the specimen attached to the gill-arch of the fish. Brachiella pastinace, Van Beneden. 1851. Brachiella pastinace, Van Beneden, Ann. des. Sci. Nat., ord ser, 't. XVi5.p.. 116, play. gs.:5,.0: Two specimens of this Brachiella were obtained in the nasal fosse of the Zrygon in which the Hudactylina just described was found. One specimen occurred in each of the two fosse. These two specimens which were posted to the artist along with a few other things in order to have drawings of them prepared, failed to reach their destination, and I am there- fore unable to furnish figures of this species. PART II.—TREMATODA. Fam, TRISTOMATIDA. Thaumatocotyle concinna, gen. et. sp. nov. Pl. xvii., fig. 15. A large sucker-disc, so characteristic of several of the Trematoda, is attached to the distal end of the body by a very short stalk which is apparently flexible. The sucker is nearly circular in outline, and its ventral surface is divided into thirteen marginal compartments which are separated from each other by narrow muscular bands ; the compartment at the lower end of the sucker is larger than any of the other twelve and is of the form of an equilateral triangle, the blunted apex of which is directed inwards and reaches fully half way toward the centre of the sucker; the other twelve marginal compartments are of nearly equal size and are sub- quadrate in form, as shown in the drawing (fig. 15). Two moderately slender rods spring from two adjacent muscular bands near the centre of the disc, and extending to the circumference of the sucker terminate in little hook-like processes—one on each side of the lower triangular compartment. The anterior end, which terminates somewhat abruptly and has a broadly triangular outline, is bifurcated in the middle. On the ventral aspect, close to the margin on each side of the fork and extending from it to the outer angle, there are arranged three small discs which may probably function as suckers. The length of the specimen represented by the figure is about 3 milli- metres (nearly + of an inch), while the breadth at the widest part is equal to about one fifth of the length ; the body is flattened and in some specimens nearly transparent, so that the internal structure may to some extent be discovered. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 279 This Trematode does not agree with any genus or species known to me. Habitat —In the nasal fosse of Trygon pastinaca, captured in Dornoch Firth, October 1903. Heterocotyle pastinace, gen. et sp. nov. Pl. xvii., fig. 14. Several specimens of the Trematode described under this name were obtained on the same Tygon pastinaca with the form just recorded, but they were found not in the nasal fossz but on the gills along with Eudactylina minuta described in the first part of this paper. In this Trematode the posterior sucker is slightly oval in outline—the transverse diameter being greater than that which is longitudinal in the proportion of about 13 to 11. The edge of the sucker is indistinctly crenate, and its ventral surface is divided into eight compartments, which extend from the circumference to near the middle, where they are interrupted by a small diamond-shaped space representing the point of attachment of the sucker to the body. The two lowest compartments are of a slightly larger size than the four upper ones, but the compartment on each side is about double the size of the one immediately above. More- over, these side compartments, together with the two lower ones situated between them, are each sub-divided into two portions by a circular line, as shown in the drawing (fig. 14). About the middle of the band which divides each large lateral compartment from the lower one, there is attached a short rod that terminates in a strony hook. The body is of a narrow ovate form and is considerably depressed ; the greatest width is equal to nearly three and a half times the length ; the total length of the specimen represented by the drawing is only 1-44 mm. (about 2 of an inch). The anterior end is narrowly truncate, and is without any lateral appendages, as in Phyllonella or Placunella, which it otherwise resembles. Besides the occurrence of the four different kinds of parasites from the Sting Ray mentioned here, Prof. van Beneden has obtained on specimens of the same species of fish taken on the coasts of Belgium, not only the Brachiella pastinace—which he found both in the nasal fossze and on the gills—but also Lerneopoda galei and Ergasilina robusta ; the first he obtained in the nasal fossee and the other on the gills. The same writer also records finding five different kinds of Cestoids in the intestines of Z’rygon.* PARTE Et. Note on a Post-LARVAL Fish ATTACKED BY PODON LEUCKARTI. Plate XVII.—Fig. 16. It is fairly well known to students of the Entomostraca that these organisms live to some extent on animal as well as on vegetable matter, and also that they do not always confine themselves to decaying sub- stances, but that living specimens, if small enough and in a weak or sickly condition, are not exempted from being attacked by them. When examining a gathering of living Entomostraca in whica Ostracoda are frequent, we may occasionally observe a number of these minute Crustaceans crowding round some object of general interest, anu, when the reason for the crowding is investigated, find that they are busy feeding on a dead or dying companion. ce aN des cdtes de Belgique leurs Parasites et leurs Commenceaux, pp. 14, 870). y 280 Part III.—Twenty-second Annual Report But although such incidents are not of rare occurrence among the Entomostraca, the example to which I would direct attention, where a post-larval fish is apparently being attacked by two members of the family Polyphemede, is somewhat unusual. Larval and post-larval fishes have no doubt many enemies, among which may be included other fishes as well, and it has also been shown that even the harmless-looking Sagittae feed upon such larve,t but this is the first time I have observed Entomostraca presumably attacking a post-larval fish in the manner shown by the drawing. As stated in the preliminary note, I am indebted to Dr. Williamson for this interesting specimen. The fish, he tells me, is a Pleuronectid— probably Pleuronectes platessa—but its emaciated condition made its correct identification somewhat doubtful. That these Crustaceans have become accidentally attached to the specimen is hardly likely, for the position they occupy and the firm hold they have of the fish, evidenced by their adhering while extraneous matter was being brushed off, and by their continuing to adhere firmly though subjected to a good deal of tossing about, does not favour such an explanation, but tends rather to support the opinion that they have intentionally seized hold of the young Pleuronectid, but whether for the purpose of attacking or merely for resting I am not prepared to say. The specimen is, however, sufticiently interesting to be recorded here. The fish was observed in a tow-net gathering ‘collected last year and supposed to be from the North Sea. The two “Crustaceans belong to the same species, viz., Podon leuckarti. * Annals of Scottish Natural History, April, 1892, p. 142. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. PLATE XVII... Hudactylina minuta. Diam. Fig. 1. Female, side view, xy MOTE Fig. 2. Female, dorsal view, ol Fig. 3. Antennule, x) 521 Fig. 4- Antenna, x 621 Fig. 5. First maxilliped, x 521 Fig. 6. Second maxilliped, x 390 Fig. 7. Foot of first pair, yi Fig. 8. Foot of second pair, x 260 Fig. 9. Foot of fourth pair, x 260 Fig. 10. Foot of fifth pair, x 260 Fig. 11. Furcal joints and last two segments of abdomen, x 260 Lerne luscr. Fig. 12. Female, side view, : , : Bae i ee Fig. 13. Parasite on gill of Gedus 1 luscus, 5 ; : ES ee 3} Trematodes. Fig. 14. Thaumutocotyle concinna, : . . : > xXE9b 25 Fig. 15. Heterocotyle pastinace, x 53 Fig. 16. Larval fish with two specimens of Podon leuckarti attached to it, X39 575 PLATE XVII. REPORT, 1904. 2% of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 281 VITI—ICHTHYOLOGICAL NOTES. By Dr. T. Wemyss Futton, F.R.S.E., Superintendent of Scientific Investigations. [Plate XVIII.] CONTENTS. PAGE The Young of the Conger, : : : = : = + 98il A Larval Fierasfer, - : Z = = - 283 The Sting Ray, - : = : : s Z aS O83 The Pilchar ro = = = t : _ 984 The Fecundity of the Sprat, - - - - - - 285 An Albino Plaice, - : : : E - 2286 The Thickback (Solea var ieqata), = = : - 286 Reversed action of the Gill-cover in Biaies! - - - = 28 THE YouNG oF THE ConcER (Leptocephalus). Two specimens of the young of the conger eel were caught in the Moray Frth by means of the small-meshed net around the otter trawl, which has been so productive of rare forms, and as such specimens are very rarely obtained in British seas, and they differ from one another in age and characters, I have thought it desirable to give a description and figures of them here. The first specimen (Fig. 1) was obtained on 27th December on Smith Bank, a well-known fishing ground off the coast of Caithness, in 28 fathoms of water. It was not recognised at the time among the other fishes caught and the lot were preserved in formaldehyde and taken to the marine laboratory at the Bay of Nigg. It was only later, when the material was being worked up, that the specimen was discovered. With the exception of a slight abrasion on the posterior half it was in good condition ; the imperfection was probably due to the fish having been caught by doubling as it passed through the mesh of the net. On examination some weeks after it was caught it was found to be trans- lucent, with a whitish opacity, the perfect transparency of the living form having been affected by the preservative. It was quite soft and flexible, resembling a tapeworm in these respects, as well as in its extremely flattened form. In extreme length it measured 145mm., (5Z inches), and it is therefore among the largest of the specimens recorded. Its weight, after the superfluous water had been removed, was only 0°61 grammes, and its volume was 11 cubic centimetres as nearly as could be determined. Its bulk in proportion to its length, as will be seen below, was thus very much under that of the other older but shorter specimen. The extreme dorso-ventral height of the body was 13°5mm., and it was broadest from about 70 to 95mm. from the head; the height just behind the head was 7mm., or about half of the other. The thickness of the body was difficult to determine; it was much thicker behind the head, where it measured about 2mm., and from this point to the posterior extremity it gradually diminished, the greater part of it being rather under than over 1mm. in thickness. The length of the head from the tip of the snout to the gill-cleft measured 10mm., and its height at the eyes was 5mm., the breadth being 3mm. just behind the 282 Part ITI.—Twenty-second Annual Report eyes. The eyes were relatively large, measuring 25mm. in diameter (they are represented as rather too large in the enlarged figure, and as a little too small in the other figure) ; the anterior edge is situated about 3mm. from the tip of the snovt. The snout is blunt and obtuse and rounded, and longer than the lower jaw, which is more pointed. The cleft of the mouth ends rather behind the middle of the eye, and each jaw is armed with a series of somewhat long, fine, slender teeth, those in front being the longest ; of these, 34 were made out in the lower jaw and 30 in the upper. The pectoral fins, placed immediately behind the gill-opening, were small and delicate, measuring about 3'‘5mm. in length. With regard to the pigment, there were two minute specks of black on the lower part of the gill-cover on the left side and four similar specks on the corresponding position on the other side. A linear series of black specks runs along each side of the ventral margin, beginning about 1lmm. behind the pectoral fin; they are most distinct in the anterior portion but are continuous to the tail, and in the posterior part they are much more miuute, numerous, and crowded, giving the appearance of a very fine black line. Along the lateral line there is a single linear series of corresponding chromatophores, of which 35 were counted, and beginning about 35mm. behind the head; they are usually situated at the junction of myotomes, and are most numerous towards the tail. No other pigment specks were observed. Of the myotomes—which are very distinct except at the tail—I counted 142, but, as stated, those at the posterior extremity are indistinct. The second specimen (Fig. 2) was of a different kind in several respects. It was taken in 24 fathoms, also in the Moray Firth but south of Smith Bank, on 12th February. In shape it is vermiform rather than teenioid, and appears to correspond to the Z. punctatus of Kaup, and which has been shown by Grassi and Calandruccio to be the stage from which the perfect conger is directly developed. It measures 123mm. (43 inches) in extreme length, and weighed, after the superfluous water was removed by blotting paper, 1675 grammes, its volume being 1‘8cem. It will be seen by comparing these figures with those referring to the other specimen that the reduction in length is accompanied by a considerable increase in bulk, since the shorter specimen weighed over | gramme more than the other, its weight being nearly three times greater. The volume, as stated, did not increase in the same proportion ; the discrepancy is perhaps due to the tissues of the younger being less solid, perhaps to defect in the determination of the volume. The extreme breadth of this specimen is 105mm. and its thickness 3mm. Its thickness is maintained in a fairly uniform way for the first two thirds of the length of the body, after which it diminishes rapidly. The distance from the tip of the snout to the commencement of the dorsal fin is 44mm. and from the same point to the anus 55mm. The head is 9mm. in length, 45mm. high, and 3:5mm. broad, and the top is more rounded than in the younger specimen. The eye is somewhat smaller, measuring 2mm. in diameter and placed 2°5mm. from the end of the snout. The lower jaw is shorter than the snout, but not to the extent represented in fig. 2b. Teeth, so conspicuous a feature in the younger specimen, could not be made out. The pectorals were more developed, being longer and, especially, broader, Of the myotomes, not so distinct as in the other form, 141 were counted. The black chro- matophores were arranged as in the younger specimen, but none were observed onthe head. Those along the lateral line are more conspicuous than those placed along the ventral margin, of which there are 26 in front of the anus, and they are much more numerous behind, being crowded together, as in the first specimen, towards the tail. of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 283 The literature dealing with these young forms need not be given here, as Cunningham has given avery full account of it in some of his papers,* and he has described a specimen of Leptocephalus Morrisit which he obtained at Plymouth in June, 1895. Besides the classical papers of Grassi and Calandruccio, reference may be made to two papers, one by Eigenmann on “The Egg and Development of the Conger Eel,” and the other by the same author and C. H. Kennedy, on the ‘“ Leptocephalus of me American Kel and other American Leptocephali,” both published in 1901.5 A Larvau Fierasfer. On 8th October last year a larval Fierasfer was taken in a tow-net used on board a fishing boat at a distance of about 185 miles E. by N. of Aberdeen ; the net was used between the surface and twenty fathoms, the depth at the place being between fifty and sixty fathoms. (PI. XVITLI., fig. 3, 3a). The specimen measured 64mm. (23 inches) in length and exhibits the slender form characteristic of the genus; the yolk, as indicated in the figure, forms a considerable mass. The remarkably elongated first dorsal ray was apparently damaged, but enough of it is left to show the presence of the skinny lobes with which it is provided. Fierasfer is remarkable for its habit in the adult condition of living within Holothurians in a condition of commensalism, but it would appear that its larval pelagic life is one of considerable duration. It is an extremely rare fish, and even Emery, who has written the classical monograph on it,$ was able to obtain only a few specimens. Outside the Mediterranean, specimens have rarely been obtained. According to Couch, Edwards found six specimens, between 6 and 7cm. long, in March, 1863, on a sandy bottom off the coast of Banff, but the record stands in need of confirmation and is passed over by Day. The latter author mentions only two examples of /’. dentatus, both got on the south coast of Ireland, one in 1836 and the other in 1852, and there does not appear to be avy other good British record of its occurrence. Only other three specimens appear to be recorded for the north of Europe. One was taken by a fisherman in from 100-200 fathoms on the Jutland Reef, to the west of the Scaw—and therefore not a great distance from the locality where the specimen here recorded was obtained—and it is now in the Royal Museum at Stockholm. The second specimen was got near Stavanger in 1881, and was described by Collet; it isin the Bergen Museum.|| The third was a specimen of F. acus, obtained by H.M.S. Zriton in the Farée Channel, on 9th August, 1882, close to the surface. It measured 104mm. in length, and has been described by Giinther.4] Tue Srine-Ray (Zrygon pastinaca). On the 22nd October a specimen of the sting-ray was taken in the trawl by one of the trawlers engaged in scientific work in the Dornoch Firth in from 8 - 13 fathoms. It was a female, measuring in extreme length 63'0cm., and in extreme breadth 37‘5em. It is noteworthy that *Journ. Marine Biol. Assoc,, vol. ili, p. 281 ; vol. ii, p. 36. +lbid.,iv, p. 74. +Bull. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1901, pp. 37-81. P §‘‘Fierasfer. Studi intorno alla sistematica, l’anatomia e la biologia delle specie mediter- ranee di questo genere.” Atti R. Accad. d. Lincet, vii., 1879-80. || Christian. Vidensk. Forhandl. 1882, No, 19. ‘| ‘“‘Report on the Pelagic Fishes collected by H.M.S. ‘Challenger’ during the years 1873-1876,” page 27, 1899. 284 Part I1I.—Twenty-second Annual Report the torpedo described in the Vineteenth Annual Report* was caught near the same place. On this specimen Dr. Scott found some new and interesting parasites (see p. 275.) , This fish is said by Day to be not uncommon off the mouth of the Thames and along the south coast, and Dr. Murie states that on the coast of Kent and at Burnham specimens from 13 to 2 feet are not uncommon, while in the estuary of the Thames it is not abundant and only small specimens are found.f Holt refers to two small specimens trawled off Plymouth, and several taken on the trawling grounds off Salcombe ; and he says the fish is well known to the local fishermen and hardly deserves special mention as a rare fish in that district. It is, however, a very rare fish in Scottish waters. Parnell met with only one example, which was caught in a salmon-net in the Firth of Forth,$ and Mr Eagle Clarke, who has brought together all the descrip- tions of rare species of the Firth of Forth since the time of Parnell, met with only one specimen which he examined in 1897, and which was caught off the Isle of May, and it is the only instance he knows of since Parnell’s record.|| It does not appear, either, that the indefatigable Edwards of Banff ever came across a specimen. It is noteworthy that this species, like the torpedo, usually has the skin smooth and soft; though Day mentions that there are occasionally some tubercles along the middle line of the back in the scapular region. The one is protected by its electric organ and the other by the formidable serrated spine with which its tail is provided, and which is capable of causing dangerous wounds; they thus differ from the ordinary rays in this respect. Tur PincHarD (Clupea pilchardus). On the 20th June last year a pilchard was taken in a drift-net employed in catching herrings, about 15 miles off Buckie, in the Moray Firth, where it was landed. Jam indebted to Mr. Alexander Suther- land, the Fishery Officer of the district, for the record. It measured 8 inches in length. In Scottish waters the pilchard is a very rare fish. Parnell, writing in 1837, says that it was then very rare, although some thirty years before it was common, and in certain localities found in equal abundance with the herring; as no authority is quoted the statement may be based on Parnell’s own observations. He says that a few were occasionally taken in the summer months on the Berwick and Dunbar coasts, but that since 1816 no pilchard had been observed in the Firth of Forth. Day also states that pilchards were more than usually abundant at Yarmouth in 1780, 1790, and 1799, but he does not mention his authority. They are, however, occasionally taken at long intervals. Thus Eagle Clarke states that Mr. Logan records in the “ Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh” (vol. ii., p. 289) that in March, 1861, considerable numbers of young pilchards were brought to the Edinburgh market along with herrings and sprats; they were only caught in large quantities for a few days in March, but they had occurred sparingly with herring during the previous winter months. Dr. Murie says that ‘Part Lil. ip. 7290, + “Report on the Sea Fisheries and Fishing Industries of the Thames Estuary,” p. 169, Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries Committee, London, 1903. t Journ. Marine Biol. Assoc. v., p. 198, 1898. § ‘‘ Fishes of the Firth of Forth,” p. 440, 1838. || Annals of Scottish Natural History, Oct. 1900, p. 215. 7 Op. cit., p. 104, of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 285 a considerable number were taken off Harwich in September, 1868 ; and a few stragglers are still brought in with the herrings at Yarmouth, according to Patterson in the Zoologist for 1897. THe FECUNDITY OF THE SPRAT. Observations on the fecundity of the sprat have been apparently rarely made, no doubt from the rarity of ripe sprats among those caught by fishermen, the only statement on the point, as far as I am aware, being in my paper on the Fecundity of Fishes in the Ninth Annual Report of the Fishery Board.* In their work on British Marine Food Fishes, Professor M‘Intosh and Mr. Masterman say that ‘the mature female appears to carry about 5000 or 5400 eggs, more or less,” which agrees generally with what is stated in the paper referred to, but it is not mentioned whether their remark is based on my observations or on others of their own confirming it. Ripe sprats having been caught in the Moray Firth in the small-meshed net used on board trawlers the opportunity was taken to investigate the point again, the previous observation having been founded on only one specimen, and that not very well preserved. As mentioned elsewhere, it is a striking feature in the ripe sprat that it is impossible to tell from the external appearance that it is ripe. There is no swelling caused by the ovaries or testes as in most other fishes, and on opening the fish the ovaries were found to be very small, although the eggs were mature and nearly mature. The contrast with the ripe herring, for example, is marked, and yet the eggs in the latter are demersal, while most fishes with pelagic eggs have greatly enlarged ovaries and exhibit abdominal tumefaciion at the spawning time. It appears, however, that all this is in conformity with the number of eggs spawned by the sprat. The fish which I examined in 1890, referred to above, measured 43 inches in length, and was found to con- tain about 1404 large eggs, and about 4000 smaller ones; the ovaries weighing 6°5 grains. The following are the particulars of five females examined, Length. | weight. | Woiettct |, Ploe, | Novot frota ees. Mm. Grammes. | Grammes. | Grammes. 1 122 12°8 0°38 032 228 2713 2 120 12:0 0492 041 274 3488 3 124 12:8 0-441 *037 158 1880 4 122 10°5 0-458 058 297 2346 5 120 11°8 0:541 — 147 2484 The eggs enumerated were those which were large and yolked, but there were many smaller, and in point of fact it would be difficult to draw a line anywhere between the large and the small, and to say that so many belong to this spawning season and so many to the next. The average number of eggs in these specimens was 2582, the small unyolked being excluded, which is rather greater than the number given for them in the early paper referred to. On the whole, however, on the assumption that the small eggs develop and become mature during the * Part III., p. 268, 286 Part ITI.—Twenty-second Annual Report course of the spawning season, the number stated in the paper may be about right, viz., 5000. The duration of the spawning season is not well known. The floating eggs were procured by the Garland from 23rd March to 19th August,* and it so happened that the extreme dates were in the same year, so that the period mentioned, comprising 149 days or very nearly five months, may be taken to represent the extent of the spawning season. How long the individual sprat goes on spawning is not known, but considering that the period embraces the warmest part of the year, and that growth is greater then, it is probable that at least the 5000 eggs are shed. But even in that case, it is evident that the sprat is one of the least fecund of fishes and, so far as known, the least of all among the fishes whose eggs are pelagic. Amid the varied complexities in the life of marine fishes the explanation is not easy to discover. That the comparatively early age at which the sprat may reach maturity is not the sole explanation—though doubtless an important factor—is shown by the fact that the whiting, which reaches maturity in its second year, produces a very much larger number of eggs. An ALBINO PHAICE. Last year a few post-larval plaice were discovered in the hatching apparatus, and among them was a small albino specimen, or one in which the pigment was almost entirely absent. The only pigment present was a few scattered chromatophores along the rays of the dorsal, ventral, and caudal fins, on the anterior part of the head between the eyes, the edge of the lower jaw, and between the jaw and the pectorals, and about a couple of dozen of minute specks scattered over the posterior half of the body, mostly near the tail. The eyes were fully pigmented. The pigment wasa dark umber. The body of the little fish was transparent, the bottom of the hatching-box being visible through it. It lived for about a year, and it differed in habit from the other small plaice living with it in that, while they were nearly always on the bottom, it preferred the side of the box, to which it clung, close to the surface of the water. The peritoneal lining of the abdominal cavity shone through the tissues with a metallic bronze appearance, THe TarcKpack (Solea variegata). Two specimens of this species of sole were taken in the small-meshed net in the Moray Firth—the first on 27th December in 28 fathoms at Smith Bank, and the other on the following day in 30 fathoms off Burghead. They were both females—the first measuring 14°8cm. with the roe well developed, and the second 16*3cm. The latter weighed 38 grammes, the ovaries weighing 1:1 grammes, and the eggs were well advanced, the larger measuring ‘84mm. in diameter. It is evident, therefore, that this fish spawns in the Moray Firth, but it is rare. It is common on the south coast of England, especially (according to Cunningham)? south of the Eddystone, in from 30 to 40 fathoms. Two specimens were taken by Holt during the Ivish Survey. It has also been occasionally captured on the west coast of Scotland, Gunther describing two immature specimens caught off Cantyre in 65 fathoms in March 1888,¢ and a few small specimens have been taken by the Garland in the Firth of Clyde. Day says that it was met with occasion- ally off Banff by Edwards, but I have not traced the record. * Masterman—‘‘ A Review of the Work of the ‘Garland’ in connection with the Pelagic Eggs of the Food Fishes,” Jbid., Part III., Fifteenth Report, p. 234, + ‘Marketable Marine Fishes ” p. 259. + Proc. Roy. Soc., Hdin. xv., p. 220, se eS UY a en Bias” serene hein of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 28 —T Tue GrowtH orf THE HALIBUT. A specimen of the halibut, which was obtained for me by Mr. Ingram, the Fishery Officer at Aberdeen, may possibly throw some light on the growth of this fish. It was caught at Iceland by hook in the spring, and landed at Aberdeen. It measured 64:0cm. (25 inches) in length, and weighed 2°350 kilogrammes. On the under surface, extending the whole length and breadth of the fish, were certain markings, part of which was plain and part obscure. The following was very clear: “'T, M. 1901,” and it was succeeded by what appeared to read “AGLI,” but may have been meant to represent “AUGT,” or August. The marks were obviously made with a knife, and the curves were angular ; the cicatrix was very narrow and linear and attached to the subcutane- ous tissue, and I suppose it occupied the same relative position in the surface of the fish at first, the skin growing equally all over. I am informed by Mr. Ingram that the mate of the vessel which brought in the fish (the Caspania) states that in his time it was a common custom for the fishing apprentices at Grimsby to ‘“ engrave” their names in this way on small halibut, and then throw them over- board. If the date is authentic, it would show that tue growth of the halibut in proportion to the size it attains is not rapid, because it implies that about two years and eight months elapsed after the marking was made, and the fish must at the time have been of a certain size. But a plaice of about the length given would be probably more than six or seven years old at least. REVERSED ACTION OF THE GILL-COVER IN PLAICE. It may be worth recording that the plaice in the large pond at the Bay of Nigg Laboratory frequently exhibit a reversal of the usual action of the gill-cover under certain conditions. In the process of respiration fishes take in water by the mouth, and by a process like that of swallowing expel it by the gill-openings. But when the tame plaice in the pond cling to the side at feeding-time, they very commonly push their snout and head for some distance out of the water, and it may then be observed that the water is spouted upwards from their mouth as a little fountain, an inch or so in height. In this case it is evident that the water is drawn in through the gill-openings behind, passes over the gills, and is then expelled by the mouth. The observation has some interest in connection with the known habits of some other fishes. EXPLANATION OF PLATE. Fig. 1. Leptocephalus Morrisii, natural size. (la.) Head enlarged, side view. CIDE) 55 es dorsal view. Fig. 2. Leptocephalus punctatus, natural size. (2a.) Head enlarged, side view. 2s) ae 55 dorsal view. Fig. 3. Fierasfer dentatus, larva, natural size, (3a.) 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OF Wen ee OF hiya Ae a Oars af pn att faa ie é “arent ANA sites By it MOTE. ek Beinn) wie Worn. ase ee if . 3 f - al ; ' Patan liver equi othe Onnueate Cade REE ES ‘ines 7 gio ite beat Ooh Oe Ab ge eee ee to Maa wi ies ie ak PLD tka so! Lohisst 9 vis wit ar i" Prag aos. i ; 44 Fy, 5 “J { ‘ nt eae ha it phy Th £yT 'y Stes. i Poetry am eA | ee Ad io i) hi oo ride. on | es F i. Tate SUShL es ih Cviy , ' £ 3 } ’ ae iy (tS EE ade min 4 - i Ce sue fiver EUR POR tae Oe ene OF i 5 t anh Fe Se Bae ee itd 0 Lek OFF, P pier 1 aisle \ eet. DATE aoe fare CrsiL ak, (4 ib ifs reitty Bs ich wk i i ey ee fen as & ea PAS | a ok 4 fi shat Ae meg as Aya i ae: ry Gerstary Vh We tigrt Hine gull trey oH: UT AV. oe vi f ac he RD DOO Bee DR os ; . yt. hatin Wie Mee gaya tis apos Fg nae Aue Pies nanos aejed Pinte ands” ero ee | Wane ohn ‘ pinta S172) NE Paar nt Be ; ashe nies ered “ pnteale go ee Ps ane nig ‘ 5 fr INDEX. ABERDEEN Bay: Trawling Investigations in, 19, 22, 23, 30, 32, 37, 38, 43, 44, 47. Albino plaice, 286. Angel fish (Rhina squatina): Parasites of 277. Anglers : Proportion marketable, 14. Anonyx nugax, 256. BALLANTRAE: Herring Fishing, 12. Brachiella pastinace, 279. Brill: Proportion marketable, 14. Relation of length to weight, 219. Size at maturity, 18. Burghead Bay: Hauls in, 20, 23, 27, 33, 39, 42, 44, 47. Calocaris macandree: Attachment of eggs in, 117. Cancer pagurus : see Crab (edible). Carcinus menas : see Shore Crab. Cat-fish : Proportion marketable, 14. Choniostomatide, 250. Coal-fish : Proportion marketable, 14. Cod: Proportion marketable, 14. Proportion of immature landed, 19. —— Relation of length to weight, 229. —— Size at maturity, 18, 158. Common Dab (Pleuronectes limanda) : Proportion marketable, 14. Relation of length to weight, 212. Size at maturity, 18. Conger : Young stages of, 281. Copepoda parasita, 275. Crab (edible) (Cancer pagurus) : History of, 9, 100. —— Carapace : Changes in, 156. — Casting of, 121. — Distribution of, 122. — Eggs of, 112. —— Growth of, 125. —— Impregnation, 101. —— Influence of temperature on, 125. —— Migration of, 136. — Mode of attachment of eggs, 108, 115. — Muscular system of abdomen of male, 103. Spawning, 108. Crangon vulgaris : Attachment of eggs in, 118. Life Daz, Common : see Common Dab, Dichelestidee, 275. Dornoch Firth: Hauls in, 22, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45. Eacs of Decapod Crustacea: Mode of attachment of, 116. of edible Crab: ment of, 108. Eudactylina, 275. acuta, 277. minuta, 275. similis, 276. Eudorella deformis, 258. Mode of attach- Fierasfer, 2838. Flounder (Pleuronectes flesus): Propor- tion marketable, 14. Relation of length to weight, 214. Gadus esmarkw: see Norway Pout. ralathea dispersa: Attachment of eggs roy ILNY/, Growth : see Rate of. Influence of temperature on, 159. Gurnard.: Proportion marketable, 14. Relation of length to weight, 236. Happock : Proportion marketable, 14. —— Proportion of immature landed, 19. Relation of length to weight, 226, 241. Size at maturity, 153. Hake : Proportion marketable, 14. Halibut : Growth of, 287. —— Proportion marketable, 14. —— Relation of length to weight, 220. Harpinia pectinata, 257. Hatchery ; Work of, 8. Herring : Investigations on, 12. Relation of length to weight, 236. Heteranthessius, 259. Heterocotyle pastinace, 279. Hoplonyx cicada, 256. Hyperia medusarum, 256. Idothea neglecta, 257. Immature Fish : Definition of size—limits of, 17, 18, 19. Proportion landed. Isle of May : Hauls off, 48. Jeanella, 259. Krynarrp Head : Hauls off, 37. Lemon Dab (Pleuronectes microcepha- Jus): Relation of length to weight, 209. Proportion of immature landed, 18. 290 Lemon Dab: Proportion marketable, 14. Size at maturity, 18. Lernea branchialis, 278. lusct, 277. Leptocephalus Morrisit, 281. punctatus, 282. Ling : Proportion marketable, 14. Little Sole (Solea lutea): Relation of length to weight, 216. Lobster (Homarus vulgaris): Attachment of eggs in, 117. : Spawning of, 117. Long Rough Dab: Relation of length to weight, 222. Lossiemouth: Hauls off, 26, 28, 47. Lumpenus lampetriformis: Eggs of, 203. Rate of growth of, 202. —— Relation of length to weight, 238. Size at maturity, 203. —— Spawning of, 203. Lumpsucker : Caught in trawl, 23. Lybster: Hauls off, 30, 35, 45. Maia squinado: Attachment of eggs in, 116. Megaluropus agilis, 257. Metopa borealis, 257. Monstrilla, 243. anglica, 246. — dubia, 247. —— gracilicauda, 245. —— grandis, 243. —— longicornis, 244. —— longiremis, 244. Monstrillide, 243. Moray Firth: Trawling Investigations in, 19. Munida rugosa: Attachment of eggs of. 116. Nephrops norvegicus: Attachment of eggs.in, 118. Norway Pout (Gadus esmarkii): Rate of growth of, 195. —— Relation of length to weight, 234. Pandalus montagui: Attachment of eggs in, 118 Paranthessius, 259. Parasites of Fish, 275. Paratylus falcatus, 257. Pilchard (Clupea pilchardus), 284. Plaice: Albino specimen of, 286. Duration of spawning, 262. —— Hatching of, 262. Proportion marketable, 14. Proportion of small caught by trawl, 30, 33, 40. Proportion of immature landed, 18. — Relation of length to weight, 145, 205, 240. — Reversed gill-action in, 287. Size at maturity, 18, 156. Platypsyllus, 258. Podon leuckarti, 279. Pogge (Agonus cataphractus): Relation of length to weight, 239. Proportion of Immature Fish landed, 16. Pseudocuma similis, 258. Part IIT, Index. Rate of Growth of Fishes: Relation of length to weight, 142. Rate of Growth of Norway Pout, 195. Sharp-tailed Lwmpenus, 202. —— Sprat, 171. —— Witch, 186. SHORE-CRAB (Carcinus maenas): Impreg- nation of, 101. —- Eggs of, 119. Spawning of, 119, 120. Skates and Rays: Proportion market- able, 14. Smith Bank: Hauls at, 25, 30, 36, 43, 45. Sole (Solea vulgaris), 14. Solea variegata : see Thickback Sole. Spheronella anvphilochi, 253. callisoma, 252. cluthee, 252. minuta, 25). — paradoxa, 251. pygmea, 253. Sprat (Clupea sprattus): Fecundity of, 285. Growth of, 171. Rate of Growth of, 171. —— Relation of length to weight, 238. Spawning of, 172. Stenothocheres egregius, 250. Sting-ray (Trygon pastinaca), 283. Parasites of, 275. Tarset Ness: -Hauls off, 45. Temperature : Influence of, on Growth of Fishes, 159. Thaumaleus rigidus, 248. rostratus, 250. ‘| —— Thompsona, 248. zetlandicus, 249. Thaumatocotyle concinna, 278. Thickback Sole (Solea variegata), 286. Trawling Investigations, 6, 13. in Aberdeen Bay, 19. in Moray Firth, 19. Proportion of Marketable and Un- marketable Fishes, 13. Trematoda, 278. Tristomatide, 278. Trygon pastinaca: see Sting-ray. Tryphana malin, 256. Turbot : Proportion marketable, 14. Relation of length to weight, 216. Wircu (Pleuronectes cynoglossus): Growth of, 186. 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