226 Part I11.— Twenty-fourth Annual Report 
HADDOCK (Gadus ceglefinus ). 
The number of haddocks measured was 6682, making, with those whose 
measurements are dealt with in the two previous papers referred to, a 
total of 28,760 specimens of this species. The collections were partly 
from Aberdeen Bay and neighbourhood and partly from the Moray Firth ; 
the measurements in one-centimetre grouping are given in the appended 
Table XXII. 
A collection made on 15th January 1902 at the “Doghole,” off 
Aberdeen, in 57 fathoms, 802 haddocks, most of them belonging to the 
first group, or fish of the previous spawning. These numbered 775, 
measuring from 150mm. to 210mm. (53-87 inches) ; most were aggregated 
between 16cm. and 19cm., the apex of the curve formed by the measure- 
ments being at 17°5, which was also the mean, while the arithmetic 
average was 180°5. The second group was represented by only a few 
fish, from 240mm. to 324mm., or near it, and the computed average size 
was 286'8mm., or about 11,5 inches, the annual increment being thus 
about 4,%, inches. 
On 13th May, in the same year, another lot of 596 haddocks was taken 
on the same ground, in 52 fathoms, most of them belonging to the first 
group, now over one year of age. They measured from 145mm. to 
239mm. (52-92 inches) ; most were between 17cm. and 22cm., the apex 
of the curve was at 19°5cm., and the mean was the same (nearly 7? 
inches). The growth in the interval of about 118 days was thus approxi- 
mately 2cm., or ? of an inch. The second group was represented by only 
a few fishes, from about 25cm. to 32cm., or more. 
On 31st October 1903 a iarge collection of 1249 haddocks was obtained 
in Aberdeen Bay, in 8-12 fathoms, and the measurements are of some 
interest, as three gronps at least are well represented, and a considerable 
number of them —all those above 27cm., and many below that size—were 
differentiated according to sex (fig. 7a, pl. XII.). It may be said at once 
that, contrary to the rule among flatfishes, the males and females are of 
approximately the same size, and thus grow at the same rate, though the 
females are in excess as to numbers. The first group, that is to say, 
haddocks approximately seven months old, ranged in length from 136mm. 
to 207mm. (53-83 inches), mest being between 14cm. and 19cm.; the 
mode was at 16cm., and the mean at 16°5cm., or 63 inches. 
The second group extended from 217mm. to 310mm. (84-123 inches) ; 
most measured from 25cm. to 30cm,, the apex of the curve was at 27cm., 
and the mean was 27:5cm., or a little above 10? inches. ‘The division 
between this group and the third group is very distinct in curves made 
on ‘dcm. grouping, at 3lcem., and it is the same for the males as for the 
females. These fish were about one year and seven months old. 
The third group extended from 31cm. to about 38cm., the bulk of the 
haddocks were between 32cm. and 35cm., the mode is at 33cm., and the 
mean is 33'5cm., or 133 inches. This group is partly fused with the last, 
and it is to be noticed that in the ‘5cm. curves there is a slight depression 
at 34cm., both with regard to the males and the females, suggestive of 
two groups. 
The means of the three groups, taking the last provisionally as one, are 
thus as follows :— . 
[ TABLE. 
