of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



403 



amended mean-size for the end of July be a<lopted tlie increase becomes 

 about 90 mm. or 3^ inches, about half the growth in length occurring 

 between the hatching in April and the end of July. 



It will also be noticed that in late autumn and in winter the growth is 

 much slower, the greatest increase occurring, in the series represented, in 

 August and the early part of September. 



The particulars regarding this series of small haddocks obtained in the 

 deep water off Aberdeen show a similar rapidity of growth, as indicated 

 in the following Table : — 



* Small-meshed net only. 



t ^-inch mesh. 



It will be observed that the averages for corresponding dates agree 

 very closely with those for Aberdeen Bay, and that whereas the young 

 haddocks were almost absent in the bay in December and January, they 

 were abundant in the deep water. The range and averages for July and 

 August require correction, as before, owing to the non-representation of 

 the smaller fishes of the series; but as they stand they show an incre- 

 ment of length of 71 mm., or 2]-^ inches, from 30th July to 16th 

 December and 15th January. Growth is obviously also slow here in 

 winter, but the average for January is probably too low, although the 

 curve is good, very few fish (27) larger than 210 mm. being taken in the 

 nets — the next largest measuring 240 mm. 



It will be observed that the largest fishes of the series increased from 

 131 mm. (5f^ inches) at the end of July to 214 mm. (8^^;- inches) in 

 December, an increase of 83 ram. 



In the Firtli of Forth the young haddocks procured during July, 

 August, and September were somewhat smaller than those taken off 

 Aberdeen, but they also exhibited a rapid growth, the mean size 

 increasing from 91-3 mm., or 3| inches, on 24th July to 119-9 ram., or 4| 

 inches, on 3rd September, an apparent increment of 28-6 mm. or li inches 

 in the forty-two days. The real increase, for the reason already indicated 

 — the want of a due proportion of the smaller haddocks in July — was 

 probably over an inch and a half. 



[Table. 



