244 THE VARIATIOX, KACES AND MIGRATIONS OF THE MACKEREL. 



(lb.) September to November, 1897. This modification of the pre- 

 ceding sample occurs in table D. It consists in the substitution 

 of 25 small November fish, caught principally in herring nets, for the 

 25 fish caught in July. It was required owing to the fact that the 

 character to which table I) refers was not examined in any British 

 fish before my visit to America in August. 



(2.) Nov. 16th to 20th, 1897. 100 fish. Caught on the 16th, 17th, 

 18th, 19th, and 20th November, in drift nets worked a few miles S.E. 

 from the EdJystone (14-18 miles S. of Plymouth Breakwater). Supplied 

 by Mr. J. Turner, Plymouth. The sample is not quite representative. The 

 total number examined was 109, but the nine smallest (from 10^ to 

 11 1 inches in length) were eliminated. 



At this time enormous numbers of drift mackerel were being taken 

 in this locality, especially on the nights of the 16th and 17th November. 

 Smaller fish, from 7f to 11 inches in length, were commonly taken at 

 the same time in herring nets worked nearer shore. 



(3.) July 6th, 1898. 100 fish. Caught in nets 30 miles south of the 

 harbour. Supplied by Mr. Turner. Not quite representative. The total 

 number examined was 118, but the 18 smallest (from 10 to 11 inches 

 in length) have been eliminated. 



(4.) July nth, 1898. 24 fish. Caught at mid-day in the Sound, 

 immediately below the Laboratory, in a seine. The sample is fairly 

 representative of the total catch of 600 fish. 



SciLLY (1.) May 8th, 1898. 12 fish. Caught off Bishop Lighthouse, 

 May 7th and 8th. Landed at Plymouth, May 9th. 



(2.) June 2nd, 1898. 12 fish. Caught "in light green water" 80 to 

 90 miles S.W. by W. (magnetic) from Newlyn, i.r., about 65 miles 

 S.S.W. (true) from St. Mary's, Scilly. Total catch, 600. Forwarded by 

 Mr. B. J. Kidge of Newlyn, Penzance. ["Fish caught oft' the Bishop 

 Lighthouse about this time were mostly shotten." — B. J. R] 



(3.) June 9th, 1898. 50 fish. Caught 20 miles S.W. from the Wolf 

 Lighthouse. Forwarded by Mr. B. J. Ridge. 



Brest, June 20th, 1898. lOU fish. Caught by hook and line off 

 Camaret, south of Brest, France, and forwarded in ice by steamer direct 

 from Brest to Plymouth. (See Introduction.) The length of one fish 

 was not recorded, but is assumed to have been 14 inches, the most 

 frequent size. 



KiNSALE (1.) July 30th, 1897. 119 fish. Caught with nets off the 

 Old Head of Kiusale. Forwarded by Mr. James Carroll, Fish 

 Merchant, Kinsale, per Cork steamer to Plymouth. Note from 

 sender : — " They are a fair average specimen of the fish now being 

 taken. All mackerel now captured are of small size and poor quality — 



