200 



Part III. — Twenty -second Annual Report 



Information as to the size at which the Norway Pout becomes mature 

 is scanty, the only observations, as far as I know, being those by Holt,* 

 who found two ripe females, each 4^ inches in length on the west coast 

 of Ireland early in April. 



I examined the condition of the reproductive organs in many of the 

 specimens procured by me. 



Seven females from the collection obtained off Burgh ead on 14th 

 November, varying in size from 151 to 171mm. (6-6| inches), had small 

 ovaries, the largest eggs ranging in diameter from "ISQ to •231mm., 

 Others on 28th December, from 95 to 118mm., had the ovaries only 

 " slightly developed," but the size of the eggs was not determined. On 

 23rd January some of those caught in fifty fathoms off Kinnaird Head 

 were examined, and both the weight of the ovary and the diameter of the 

 largest eggs had considerably increased. The following Table exhibits 

 the particulars, the dimensions being in millimetres, and the weight in 

 grammes. The first six are from the November collection, and the others 

 from that in January. 



Those examined from the collection made off Burghead on 1st April 



were all "quite immature," their sizes ranging from 93 to 139mm. 



(3|— 5| inches) so that this circumstance together with the facts in the 

 above Table appear to show that spawning occurs probably in February 

 and March. 



A Table giving the measurements in twenty collsctions, arranged in 

 half-centimetres, is appended. 



* Roy. Dubl. Soc. Report of Council for 1891. App., p. 291. 



