362 REPORT ON THE PROBABLE AGES OF YOUNG FISH. 



always taken in shrimp-nets. At Cleethorpes^ in the shove-net, 

 April 25th, 261 were taken, ranging from 1-| to 3| inches in length. 

 These were of all ages, one year upwards, the adult not exceeding 

 3^ inches. It spawns in spring. 



Syngnathus acus {Common Pipe-fish). 



April 25th. — Two 3^ to 4| inches (8*9 to 12*2 cm.), at Cleethorpes, 

 shove-net. 



June 3rd. — Twenty-four 3^ to 4<|- inches (8-3 to 12*4 cm.), at 

 Cleethorpes, cart-trawl. 



When adult this species is 12 to 16 inches long, so that these 

 specimens are presumably not more than a year old ; but they are 

 nearly all breeding, the males carrying ova, and many of the females 

 full. These young specimens differ from the large adults in several 

 characters, and appear at first sight to belong to a distant species. 

 The subject is discussed in Giinther's Brit. Mus. Catalogue, vol. 

 viii, p. 159. 



