146 



Fart III. — Twenty-seeond Anmial Report 



A simple method of determining the relatio-.iship, without calculating 

 out the ratio at all lengths, is to compare the weights at twice the size ; 

 according to the law the weight should be eight times greater. This has 

 been done in all the possible cases throughout the tables, and, with a few 

 exceptions in individual instances where the numbers were usuallysmall, 

 it has been found that the weight at twice the size is greater, and some- 

 times very considerably greater, than the law implies. 



Thus, among plaice of which a large number were weighed (913) there 

 is no exception to the statement made, from 4-5cm. on to 35-70cm. 

 Ill all cases the weight calculated in this manner is less than the weight 

 actually observed, and the excess over what is required by the law is in 

 some cases considerable. The following examples may be given : — 



Throughout the tables of measurements for haddocks also the weight 

 thus calculated is always under the weight observed, except in a few 

 cases among the largest fishes. Whether this is due to the fact that the 

 number of the fishes at the larger sizes is too small to show the true 

 relation, or the difference is a real difFerence with age, cannot at present 

 be decided. I give the selected examples for haddocks in the accompany- 

 ing Table, with all the cases where the calculated weight is greater than 

 the observed weight : — 



