252 THE COD FAMILY. 



but whereas in the latter it extends considerably beyond the 

 vent, it falls considerably short of it in the haddock. The cod 

 of the same length has a much longer second ray than either. 



At this stage also they seldom come under the cognizance 

 of any fisherman. 



Towards the end of the same month, however, viz. on the 

 30th of July, specimens of 4 inches occasionally take a hook or 

 are entangled in debris in a trawl. The ventral fin is propor- 

 tionally shorter (though the second ray is still long), a larger 

 interval occurring between its tip and the vent. 



In August the haddock of the season range from 3 to 

 C inches, all the specimens in the laboratory at and above 

 4J inches being from the hooks of the liners. It is probable 

 others will extend on each side of these limits. The long ray 

 (second) of the ventral fin is still prominent. 



The growth of the haddock is thus rapid, more rapid than 

 at first sight it would seem. 



In September the specimens from the hooks range from 

 5 to 6f inches. Fries observes that in October and November 

 small haddocks of 100 and 150 mm. (4 6 inches) are oc- 

 casionally captured on the coast of Bohuslan, and this agrees 

 with what Yarrell formerly mentioned. In November some 

 reach 7f inches ; while in December the limits in the collection 

 are of and 7| inches. 



The following year the young haddocks are familiar to 

 fishermen as the ' summer haddocks ' immense shoals seeking 

 the inshore waters after sand-eels and other prey, and often 

 proving a nuisance to the liners, occasionally even to trawlers. 

 In May and June their length ranges from 7-| to 9 inches 

 or thereabout. Their early life is thus spent in the deep 

 water offshore, as all our former experience demonstrated, and 

 as also shown by Dr Fulton in 1890 l . If special nets, such 

 as the mid-water net, are used over the various fishing-banks 

 offshore, multitudes of little haddocks are obtained, but other- 

 wise they do not come under the notice of fishermen until 

 they are able to take a hook, that is, when about 4 inches in 

 length. 



1 8th Ann. Eept. Fishery Board, p. 174. 1890. 



