of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 227 
Moan Size, | Agproniatg Annual 
Age pete eS 4 
Cm. Inches. Cm. Inches. 
1st 7 months. 16°5 64 - - 
2nd 1 year and 7 months. 27°5 10? 11 44 
ord 2 years and 7 months. 33°5 13} 6 28 
The third group will constitute the great spawning shoal in the 
following spring. 
On 29th December in the same year, 162 haddocks, taken in Aberdeen 
Bay, showed the presence of three groups. The first extended from 
146mm. to 215mm., or near it (57-84 inches); most were between 
15cm. and a little over 19cm., the apex of the curve was at 17-5cm., and 
the mean was about 17:2cm., or 6? inches. The number is not large, 
but the measurements show an increase in length of about lem. from 31st 
October. The other groups are but slightly represented ; one appeared 
to extend from 23cm. to 30cm., and the other from the latter to 36cm. ; 
there were also 7 haddocks from 40cm. to 43cm, (153-17 inches), pro- 
bably approaching their fourth year. 
A collection made with the small-meshed net on 29th March, 1905, 
numbered 314, and belonged to the first group. It extended from 
133mm. to 204mm. (53-8 inches); most were between 15cm. and 
18-5cm., the apex of the curve was at 17cm. and the mean about 16°5cme 
or 64 inches. A few small haddocks belonging to this haul wer., 
omitted to be measured. 
Four collections of haddocks from Smith Bank, in the Moray Firth, 
were measured, the depth in which they were taken being usually 22 or 
23 fathoms. 
On Ist April, 1904, they numbered 885, and three groups were repre- 
sented, the first only by a few fish from 15-8cm. to 20cm. or 21cm. The 
second series was well shown; it extended from 20cm. or 21cm. to 29cm. 
(8-114 inches); most measured between 23cm. and 27:5cm., the apex of 
the curve constructed on the measurements was at 25cm., and the mean 
was 25:2cm. or 25:3cm, (10 inches). These haddocks were about two 
years of age. 
The next group extended from 29cm. to about 37cm. (113-143 inches), 
most of them were between 30cm. and 34cm. (113-133 inches), the apex 
of the curve was at 3lcm., and the mean was about 32cm., or 124 inches. 
These fish were about three years of age. 
| 
The particulars are these :— 
Average Size. | a ap eae 
Age. wit’ 
Cin. Inches. Cm. Inches. 
SE Oe Ei aes ee ee oe allie weet 
Ist 1 year old. - - ~ - 
2nd 2 years old. 25°2 10 = = 
3rd 3 years old. By 124 6:5 24 
