DK. LE DANOIS ON HAKE 



12r, 



globulo. The only rpcorded laboratory experiment in the 

 hatching of the eggs known to the writer is that of Dr. Kaffaele, 

 who fertihzed them at Naples in the beginning of May, and 

 hatched them out in sixty to seventy hours. He was, no 

 doubt, using water of considerably higher temperature than 

 prevails on our hake grounds, probably not less than 55° F.,^ 

 and further experiments to determine the rate of incubation 

 at various temperatures are urgently needed. 



TJie Larvae 



The larvae, when they hatch out first, are about 3 millimetres 

 in length. By the time the yolk is absorbed they are said to 



Meriucius 



Fig. 9. — Newly hatched hake j\f inch long. (From Meek's Migrations of Fish.) 



Yia. 10. — Baby hake 0-17 inch (4-5 mm.) long. (Drawn by Dr. M. V. Lebonr.) 



Meriucius 



Fig. 11. — Hake fry, finch long. (From Meek'.s Migrations of Fish.) 



measure 4 milHmetres. They have been found by Schmidt at 

 270 to 550 fathoms to the west of our islands, and Clark, 

 between July and September 1920, obtained thirteen specimens 

 ranging from 4-5 mm. to 13 mm. — all except three in about 

 40 fathoms fifteen miles outside the Eddystone. Dr. Lebour 

 dissected these and found them to be feeding on copepods and 

 their larvae, but there is as yet no information on the all- 

 important ' baby food ' which is eaten before the yolk dis- 

 appears. 



^ The temperature off Provence is 55° F. at 100 to 150 fathoms. 



