210 Part III—Twenty-fourth Annual Report 
seven months of age, approximately 4? inches in length, the size varying 
from about 3 inches to about 74 inches, and in December they were of 
much the same size. It was estimated that the growth during the second 
year amounted to about 16°7cm., or a little over 64 inches; that the 
average size of a cod when about two years of age was approximately a 
little over 13 inches; when about three years old about 20 inches; and 
when four years old about 27 or 28 inches ; and that though some might 
reach a size equal to that of sexually mature males when three years of 
age, the great majority, and perhaps all, would not spawn till they were 
about four years old. 
Since the publication of my paper on the growth of the cod, in the 
Annual Report for 1900, a number of investigations have been made on 
the same subject, which may be briefly referred to. 
Dr. Petersen gave an estimate of the growth, in Danish waters, as 
follows :—In its first year it is between 1 and 8 inches long; in its 
second between 10 and 18; in its third between 20 and 30; and in its 
fourth year 30 inches and ionger; and he states that this rate of growth 
is somewhat similar to what is given by me in the above paper. Measure- 
ments are not given by Dr. Petersen, except in certain cases, viz., of fish 
taken at the end of March by line, and two groups are shown—first, one 
in which the first year has been completed, and which measure from 
about 9cm. to about 22cm. (34-92 inches); and second, a group which 
have completed two years, and measure approximately from 27cm. 
to 52cm. or 53cm. (103-202 inches), the maximum number in each 
group being massed about 15cm. or 16cm. (6-63 inches) and 36cm. to 
39cm. (143-153 inches) ; while cod above 52cm. or 53cm. (204 inches) 
are described as of greater age.* 
In several of his papers dealing with the Norwegian fishery investiga- 
tions, Hjort has given an account of the rate of growth of the cod. A 
length of between 8cm. and 16cm. (34-52 inches) is assigned to it in its 
first year, and between 18cm. and 24cm. (74-94 inches) in the second 
summer of its life, when it is about 14 years old, which agrees with my 
results, In a table of measurements of cod taken on the south-west 
coast of Norway in August, the following sizes are shown :—(1) a group, 
about six months old, from 4 cm. to 13cm. (13-53 inches), most 
measuring 6em, (2) A group, about 14 years old, from 16cm. to 30cm. 
(6;-112 inches), and most about 25cm. (9% inches). (3) A group, 
about 23 years of age, from 32cm. to 42em. (123-164 inches). All 
these groups agree with my own determinations. 
In another work on Norwegian fisheries, Hjort, referring to the cod on 
the coast of Finmarken, distinguishes four age-groups :—(1) One year old, 
about 20cm. long (73 inches). (2) When two years old, and known as 
* Finmarken cod” or “ Lodde cod,” and forming an important fishery on 
the Finmark coast, to which a length of 50cm., or 193? inches, is assigned. - 
(3) A group, at least three years of age, comprising the largest cod, and 
forming the basis of the ‘“Skrei” fishery, and measuring about 70cm. in 
length (273 inches) { It seems to me that the two last groups are probably 
too large ; they do not, at least, agree with the rate of growth in the North 
Sea. No details of the measurements are furnished, except ina diagram, 
which shows the measurements of the Finmarken cod in April, and of 
the larger cod on the Malangsgrunden. A growth of 30cm. (11? inches) 
in a year from the first to the second group seems excessive. 
In another paper, Hjort refers to the Danish investigations on the 
“Thor,” referred to below, and mentious that with the cod taken by the 
* Report of the Danish Biological Station, LX., pp. 4, 30. 
+ Hjort and Dahl, Fiskeforség i Norske Fjorde, pp. 75, 77. 
} Fiskeri og Hvalfangst i det Nordlige Norge, pp. 50-53, 
