230 Part I1I—Twenty-fourth Annual Report 
On 27th December, 1903, a collection of 494 whitings belonged almost 
entirely to the first series. Most were aggregated between llcm. and 
16cm.; the apex of the curve was 13cm., and the mean about 13°5cm., or 
about 53 inches. The smallest of the group measured 85mm. (332 inches) 
and the largest probably 211mm., but it may have been less. 
The next collection was on the 28th December. It comprised 1209 
whitings from the small-meshed net only, the whitings obtained in the 
trawl net having been omitted from measurement. The smallest was 
76mm. (3 inches) and the largest 177mm.; most were aggregated between 
10cm. and 13cm., the apex being at 12cm. and the mean at 11:5cm., or 
about 43 inches. The low average is due to the omission referred to. 
Another collection, on 7th December, 1904, included 496 whitings, the 
smallest being 79mm. (33 inches) and the largest 183mm. (77 inches). 
Most were aggregated between 12cm. and 15cm., the mean being 13-5cem., 
or 5,°; inches. 
The sixth collection from the Dornoch Firth was on 9th February, 
1905, and contained 628 whitings. Nearly all belonged to the first 
group, now approaching one year of age, and the bulk of the specimens 
were aggregated between llem. and 15:dcm., the average being 13:2cm., 
or 53 inches. 
On the south coast of the Moray Firth, at Burghead Bay and in that 
neighbourhood, another series of collections of whitings was made, and in 
most of these cases two groups were represented. The first was on 20th 
October, 1903; it comprised only 94 whitings, 47 belonging to each 
series, and the numbers are thus small. In the first group the smallest 
whiting was 75mm. (almost 3 inches), the largest being 146mm., and the 
mean about 10:5em. (44 inches). In the second group the smallest was 
182mm. (7 ;°; inches), and the largest apparently 299mm., or 11? inches; 
the mean size was about 23°5cm., or 94 inches. The curves for the 
measurements are a little irregular, but, so far as they go, they show a 
difference between the two groups, both between the actual apices of the 
curves (or modes) and the means, of about 13cm., or 53 inches. 
The second collection, on 14th November, 1903, comprised 355 
whitings, mostly of the two first groups referred to. The younger group 
contained 193 whitings measuring from 61mm. to 174mm. (37-63 inches) ; 
most were aggregated between 10cm. and 14cm., the apex being at 13cm.; 
the mean about 12cm. (4? inches), and the arithmetic average 121-8cm. 
The curve of the second group is less regular, the apex is at 28cm., and 
the mean about 27°5cm. (10? inches). The difference is 15cm. and 
15‘5em., or 52 inches. These whitings were taken further off the shore, 
in water of 30 fathoms depth. 
In a collection made on 28th December, 1903, in the same locality, in 
water of 30 fathoms, comprising 386 whitings, the first group, which 
included most of them, ranged from 75mm. to 185mm. (3-77 inches). 
The great majority were aggregated between 1lem. and 15cm., the apex 
of the curve was at 13cm., or 53 inches, and this was also the mean, while 
the arithmetic average was 129mm.; the second group were represented 
by only a few, insufficient to show the limits or average size. 
Another small collection of 29 whitings was obtained on 29th Decem- 
ber, the first group ranging from 110cm. to 184cm. 
A collection on 23rd January, 1904, in 50 fathoms, off Kinnaird Head, 
numbered 131, and chiefly belonged to the first group. This group 
ranged in size from 76mm. to 165mm. Most were aggregated between 
10cm. and 13:5cem., the apex of the curve being at 12cm., and the mean 
a little less; the arithmetic average was 120‘7mm. ‘The second group 
included few fishes, most being at 24cm, to 37cm. 
