REPORT ON THE PROBABLE AGES OF YOUNG PISH. 



357 



lu the above estimates of ages I have included, therefore, four 

 spawniug mouths — May, June, July, and August — leaving out April, 

 when probably few turbot spawn. Those taken in shore waters in 

 the shrimp-nets, like the young brill in the previous table, are 

 undoubtedly from the spawning of the previous year, and probably 

 represent only the most backward specimens of that year's brood. 

 I have at present no evidence as to the average or the maximum 

 length of year-old specimens ; but as the maximum length of the 

 turbot, according to Dr. Fulton, is 28 inches, I should think that 

 most of those obtained in Grimsby Market on June 3rd, 11 to 15 

 inches long, were two years old, and some may have been three years. 

 Some observations on the growth of turbot in captivity were made 

 many years ago in France, and are published in the Bulletin de la 

 8uciete Imj)eriale Zoologique d' Acclimatation for 16th June, 1865. 

 At the aquarium of Coucarneau young turbot hatched in June, 1864, 

 had a length of 5 to 6 cm., 2 to 2| inches, on April 16th, 1865, and 

 a mean weight of 4 grammes. Others, a little older, hatched in 

 April, 1864, had on the same date a length of 14 to 19 cm., 5i to 

 7| inches, and weighed 52 to 126 grammes. Others about two 

 years old measured 20 to 28 cm., 7| to 11 inches, and weighed 200 

 to 380 grammes. All these specimens had been taken by the seine 

 on sandy shores, and how far the ages given are accurate I am 

 unable to say. But the sizes given agree closely with my own 

 conclusions. The authors call particular attention to the inequality 

 in the rate of growth, and give the same explanation as I have given 

 for my captive flounders, namely, that the most greedy and boldest 

 individuals seize all the food. 



Gadus morrliua, the Cod. 



The cod spawns chiefly from the end of January to the end of 

 April, and it is evident that these specimens belong to the year's 

 produce. They seem to be widely distributed, having been taken 



