340 R. S. CLARK. 



SYNGNATHIDiE. 



Syngnathus acus L. S. rostellatus Nilss. Nerophis cequoreus L. 

 Larval and post-larval pipe-fishes occurred sparingly in the young- 

 fish trawl material. They represent types of three species, of which the 

 commonest is Syngnathus rostellatus Nilss. Most of the specimens were 

 taken in bottom hauls close inshore, with a higher frequency from the 

 mouth of the Sound inwards. A few were taken offshore, notably two older 

 stages of S. acus, in surface hauls at midnight from 3 to 5 miles south of 



the Eddy stone rocks. 



AMMODYTID.E. 



Ammodytes sp. 



According to the records in Table 25, the frequency of the sand-eel 

 larvae and post-larvse is greatest between the thirty and forty fathom 

 lines, decreases slightly between the twenty and thirty, and is practically 

 limited to a few records under twenty fathoms. 



The summary (Table 4) shows a gradual increase in numbers until 

 August, and a decrease in September, after which no individuals were cap- 

 tured. There is thus a comparatively dense spawning period in the middle 

 months of the year, which seems to correspond to the period assigned 

 to A. lanceolatus. Ehrenbaum considers the lesser sand-eel {A. tobianus) 

 an earlier spawner. The period of maximum hatching for this species 

 in the North Sea lies between January and March. 



Both species are represented in the collection, but I have been unable 

 to separate out the two forms as they show no obvious specific characters 

 which would ensure accuracy in identification. 



GADID.E. 



Gadus follachius L. G. merlangus L. G. minutus 0. F. Miiller. 



G. luscus L. 

 These four species of Gadoids have been brought together in Table 5. 

 It will be seen that the maximum number of individuals lies in May and 

 June, and that these are mostly whiting {G. ynerlangus). The pollack is 

 an early spawner, but this may not account altogether for the scarcity 

 of post-larval forms, especially when one considers the tolerable abun- 

 dance of older stages in the littoral areas in summer. The records 

 of G. minutus and G. luscus are important, and may help to throw 

 some light on the spawning periods of these two closely allied species. 

 G. luscus larvae were taken in September, October, and November, 1913. 

 Investigations were carried on at intervals during December of the 

 same year, and during January and February, 1914, and eggs of this. 



