of the Fisherji Board for Scotland. 407 



represented by five specimens from 214 to 266 mm. in length, the average 

 being 21 7 "8 mm., or 8g inches. The next series — fish a little over two 

 years old — numbered 1.35, and measured from 280 to 365 mm., the average 

 being 323"6 ram., or 12^ inches. The fourth series, or fish a little over 

 three years old, numbered 114, and had an average size of 408*1 mm., or 

 16^ inches, the range being from 375 to 462 mm. There were other 

 fifteen, measuring from 465 to 538 mm., with an average of 490'6 mm. 

 (19| inches), representing fish about four years and two months old, and 

 another measuring 570 mm. 



In the haul on Smith Bank on 5th June, in 22 fathoms, seventeen 

 haddocks represented the fish of the preceding year ; they measured from 

 217 to 246 mm., and had an average size of 231 mm., which is too 

 high. The next series comprised 224 haddocks from 256 to about 363 mm., 

 the average size being 309*7 mm., or 12^ inches. Other 82 ranged 

 from 365 to 444 ram., with an average of 393*8 mm., or about 15^ inches, 

 and seven measured from 458 to 524 mm., the average being 486*9 mm., 

 or a little over 19 inches. There was also one at 711 mm. 



On I^ovember 8th the haddocks of the year were represented by eleven 

 from 186 to 206 mm., with an average of 197*6 mm., or 7f inches. 



A haul in 83-85 fathoms on 4tli July off Kinnaird Head yielded 105 

 haddocks of the previous year which gave a good curve, the sizes ranging 

 from 174 to 263 mm., the average being 215*5 mm., or 8| inches. The 

 mean size is considerably below that of the haddocks off Aberdeen at 

 nearly the same date and approximates to that of the haddocks caught 

 further north-east, off the Shetlands. The remainder of the curve is 

 irregular, but the second series — over two years of age — appears to comprise 

 94 haddocks ranging from 273 to 374 mm., the average being 319*8 mm., 

 or 12| inches. Other thirteen measured from 383 to 474 mm. with an 

 average of 408*7 mm., or a little over sixteen inches, and one measured 

 502 ram. 



The young haddocks from the deep water off" the Shetlands have been 

 already referred to (p. 404). The definition of the limits of the older series 

 presents greater difficulties, although not so much as was found to be the 

 case with the whiting. The places where the hauls were taken are 

 approximately as follows :^ 



(1) 31 Aug.-4 Septr., 1900.— Lat. 59' 35' N., long. 1° 5' E. ; 70 



miles S.E. by E. of Sumburgh 

 Head, Shetland, 65 fathoms. 



(2) 16-19 October, 1900.— Lat. 59° 24' N., long. 1° 8' W. ; 16 



miles S.E. of Fair Isle, 60-65 

 fathoms. 



(3) 19-20 May, 1901.— Lat. 59° 55' N. to 60* 10' N., long. 0° 50' E. ; 



60 miles E. by S. of Sumburgh 

 Head ; 65-70 fathoms. 



(4) 11 December, 1901.— Lat. 59° 16' X., long. 0° 53' E. ; about 75 



miles S.E. of Sumburgh Head ; 

 75 fathoms. 



(5) 10 :March, 1902.— Lat. G0° 42' N., long. 1° 45' E. ; nearly 



midway between XJnst, Shetland, 

 and Norway ; 75 fathoms. 



In most of the hauls the curves of measurements are not very satis- 

 factory. The measurements of the larger haddocks in August and 

 September, 1900, were made on the inch scale (to cpiarters), and the great 

 bulk of them formed a curve whose base extended from about 28 to 42 or 

 43 cm.. Avith little indication of a sulcus until about 37 cm. More than 

 one series were really comprised in this group. 



