INTRODUCTION. 



indeed, a chess-board in the regularity of their arrangement. 

 The sides and the head had an alternating silvery and golden 

 gloss. The thread-like "beard" under the chin was now present, 

 and the aspect was truly cod-like. They also occurred abun- 

 dantly at the margin of the rocky shores and quiet bays, where 

 they were better protected from the voracious pollack which 

 decimated them in the open water. Their average size inshore 

 remained till far into September from 60 to 70 mm., and this 

 apparently stationary condition was explained by Prof. Sars as 

 due to constant emigration and immigration of the swarms of 

 young cod. The larger forms sought the deeper water, the 

 smaller the inshore water. 



Nor was the backward condition of British information on 

 this head to be wondered at. The authorities entrusted with 

 the patronage of posts in which marine zoology could be studied 

 as a rule and with a singular impartiality filled them with those 

 accustomed to other departments of the subject, while men 

 imbued with enthusiasm for marine zoology were stationed far 

 inland. Marine investigations, therefore, were often made under 

 disadvantageous circumstances, or altogether ignored. More- 

 over, it is only within comparatively recent years that young 

 observers could be trained in marine zoology with any prospect 

 of future advancement, and even now the condition in this 

 respect is far from satisfactory. It is no marvel therefore that 

 progress in this country in regard to the life-histories of the 

 food-fishes was more or less in abeyance. 



Trawling Commission of 1883-84. When, in 1883, the 

 Government of this country, in consequence of urgent com- 

 plaints made by the line fishermen against the practice of 

 beam- trawling, which, long pursued in English waters, had now 

 made considerable progress in Scottish seas, appointed a Royal 

 Commission to inquire into the subject, it was soon found that 

 there were no well-ascertained facts with which to meet the 

 great variety of statements brought forward on all sides. It . 

 became necessary, therefore, to undertake a series of scientific 

 investigations in connection with the marine fisheries, and, 

 amongst other points, the eggs, larval stages, young and 

 adolescent conditions of the food-fishes received special attention. 



