NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 79 
tion of undersized fish. For this purpose the observations of 
Dr. Fulton, who has now (Rep. 8S. F. B., 1892) enhanced the 
value of his former records by adding particulars as to sex, are of 
great assistance, since the conditions of the area from which his 
information was derived are, in great measure, identical with 
those of the parts of the North Sea with which I am here dealing. 
The standards of maturity which I have proposed below are 
founded on the same basis as those put forward in the case of flat- 
fish. It seems preferable to deal with the methods of distinguishing 
the different conditions when the inquiry is more complete, but, of 
course, it may be taken that, exceptis excipiendis, what is true of one 
group of Teleosteans applies, in great measure, to others. 
Cod (Gadus morrhua). 
Provisional size-limit, 25 inches. 
Examined during the spawning season. 
MALES. FEMALES. 
Length. No. [ Ripe or Ranreacit | Tiniae No. Ripeor | Approach- | tmma- 
examined. | recently _ ing ture. | examined.| recently _ ing ture. 
spent. ripeness. spent. ripeness. 
At 12 inches 1 0 0 | u 1 0 0 i! 
poe Ve 6 es 2 0) (6) 2 2 0 0 2 
Ge 55 1 0 Oe 2 1 0 (0) if 
mS 55 5 0 0 5 5 0 (0) 5 
20s he, 9 (0) 0 9 8 (0) 0 8 
eae 255 hale 1 0 15 ily) 0 1* 16 
Bean 18 1 1 16 14 0 0 14 
a PAB ep 30 8 ik 21 22 3t 2 17 
Re ss 43 10 9 24 37 0 15 22 
S730) 2 6 16 10 31 2 9 20 
Eo en. 5 | 2471 12 11 4, 29 2 22 5 
Sac Oi tas 15 5 ep a 17 3 13 ilar 
S700 55 2 Om 2 0 2 0 2 0 
Some larger and smaller fish examined were all mature and im- 
mature respectively. On account of the large size of this fish, I have 
used divisions of two inches instead of one inch as in smaller forms. 
From consideration of the fish obtained during the survey on the 
west coast of Ireland, I expressed the opinion that the limit for the 
female should be about 26 or 27 inches. The above table seems to 
show that such a limit would not be too high for the North Sea; 
all the fish, however, were caught on the hook, and gravid females, 
* Three parts ripe: exact length 223 inches. 
+ Smallest ripe fish: 263 inches. 
{ Largest immature fish: 35 inches. 
