The Paucity of Records of Young Forms. 35 



tribution of the species. The frequency of the records of young stages will, there- 

 fore, in a large measure, dej^end on the frequency with which the areas, where 

 the young forms occur, have been explored with apparatus suitable for their cap- 

 ture. The chances of capture of these forms also depend on the time of year in 

 which the different areas have been investigated. 



The whole area throughout which the adult Angler is captured has not been 

 equally exhaustively investigated. The North Sea area, which supplies 70 per 

 cent, of the total weiglit of marketable Anglers to European markets, has been very 

 thoroughly explored, especially since the inception of the International Investi- 

 gation. Yet, the records of capture of the young forms belong almost exclusively 

 to the Scottish section, and to the northern portion of it. The southern area of 

 the North Sea has been explored again and again by research vessels belonging 

 to the bordering countries with negative results. The results are also negative 

 for the southern section of the area which has been most exhaustively investigated 

 by the Scottish research steamer. It is difficult to indicate on a single chart, or 

 even on a series of charts, the many observations which have been made at all times 

 of the year from 1904 to 1914, with different apparatus operating not only at the 

 bottom, but in mid-water layers and at the surface. There is a line of stations, 

 however, which runs east from the Firth of Forth, which has an important bearing 

 on this question. This line of stations, for the eleven years under review, has 

 been visited every year, and in practically every month of each year, with negative 

 results in so far as Lophius jnscatorius is concerned. But similar observations 

 made in the northern Scottish area have yielded positive results, thus showing that 

 these young stages can be captured with the apparatus employed. The records 

 of occurrence of the spawn, isolated eggs, post-larvse, and young bottom forms 

 are represented in Chart I. Chart II. shows the stations investigated by the 

 Scottish Investigation steamer Goldseeker during the period 1904 to 1914, and the 

 quarters of the year in which each station was visited. The number of times each 

 station was visited is not represented. Although the number of captured specimens 

 is small, the occurrence of newly-spawned isolated eggs of Lojyhins within this 

 northern area is proof that the Angler does spawn within the area. This statement 

 is confirmed by the capture on 4th May 1916 at 57° 37' N. ; 0° 53' E. of a sheet of 

 spawn which had been very recently spawned. 



The evidence at present available, therefore, leads one to conclude that the 

 Angler is a species which spawns in the North Sea only in northern or deeper areas, 

 north of 57° North Latitude. 



If this northern area, which has been so diligently searched, is the general 

 spawning area of the Angler, the jDaucity of records of such a conspicuous object 

 as the spawn is altogether inexplicable. 



The information regarding these sheets of spawn has mainly been got from 

 samples which have drifted into shallow water, or have been stranded on the 

 beaches. The observations already made on the sheets of spawn have shown 

 that they are floating objects. They may not always float at the surface, even 

 when newly-spawned, and may thus escape observation. It may also be urged 

 that the sheets of spawn, on account of their size and nature, are peculiarly elusive, 

 and that apparatus, such as tow-nets and young fish trawls, are not adapted to 

 their capture. 



Such an argument cannot be used to explain the infrequency of records of larval 

 and post-larval forms in the northern North Sea, if it is a general spawning area 

 for Lcphius. Larval and post-larval forms of such common species as haddock, 

 cod, and whiting, which are as active in their movements as young Anglers, have 

 been caught by the same apparatus, in great numbers. The Scottish area has 

 been extremely well searched at that period when the young post-larval Anglers 

 are most likely to be present. 



The absence of information concerning the distribution of the very small bottom 

 forms is also especially noteworthy. In the present Eeport, only seven new records 

 can be given for the Scottish area of specimens under 120 mm. in length. All 

 these, however, are smaller than the smallest previously recorded, but only two 

 of them were from the North Sea. One, 94 mm. in length, was got off Berriedale, 

 in the Moray Firth, in the ordinary commercial trawl. The other was got at 

 60° 45' N. ; 2° 30' E., in a small trawl of very fine mesh, the head line of which 



