of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 49 



Parts of the fislies were left in a tub without any preservative, and two 

 days later they were surrounded by a large quantity of watery fluid which 

 had been derived from them. The fishes, although fat and full of flesh, 

 seemed on arrival to be in a jelly condition. The skull was not soft, but 

 there was a mass of jelly-like substance on top of it. The bones cut 

 fairly easily, but the backbone of a conger 34 inches (85 cm.) long, 

 which had a very small ovary, also cut fairly easily. 



On October 30, a conger 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm.) long had large ovaries 

 containing eggs which measured -6, -55 x "62 mm. in diameter. Some eggs 

 and a portion of the ovary were pressed out at the genital aperture. The 

 eggs were white. After iDeing in sea-water for two days a slight separation 

 of the zona from the yolk was seen both in the free eggs and also in some of 

 those attached to the portion of the ovary. 



Three congers were obtained on November 2nd. The largest, which was 

 5 feet 2^ inches (156 cm.) long, had a large ovary, the eggs of which 

 measured -6, -55 x "6 mm. in diameter. As in the fishes recorded above, the 

 eggs were opaque white. After being in sea water overnight three eggs 

 which had been pressed out by the genital aperture showed a slight separa- 

 tion of the zona from the yolk. No translucent large eggs were visible in 

 the ovary. The fish was in very good condition. 



Two smaller congers, 3 feet 7| inches (109 cm.) and 3 feet lOi inches 

 (126 cm.), had small ovaries in which the largest eggs measured '12 and 

 •15 mm. respectively. The eggs were translucent. 



The bones of the skull, and of the vertebral column of the largest fish, 

 were more easily cut through with a knife than the corresponding bones in 

 one of the smaller fishes. The largest fish was very black on the dorsum, 

 while the smaller fishes had a slate-coloured back. 



Two other specimens were obtained on November 4, They measured 

 4 feet (120 cm.) and 4 feet 2 inches (125 cm.) respectively. In both the 

 eggs measured "15 mm. in diameter. The smaller fish was of a light-slate 

 colour, with the edge of the marginal fin black. The snout was not so 

 rounded, nor did the eyes appear so large, as in the large specimens just 

 recorded. The flesh was not jelly-like. The skull was difficult to cut 

 through, but the vertebral column was easily cut across. 



On December 8, a black jelly conger was examined. It was very fat. It 

 measured 5 feet 6| inches (165 cm.) in length. A piece of the ovary had 

 been pressed out at the genital aperture. The eggs were opaque white, and 

 measured •4-"55 mm. in diameter. Another fish which was received on 

 December 24 was examined after it had been in formaline. The ovaries 

 were developing. The largest yolked eggs were "4 mm. in diameter. 



In February, seven congers measuring from 3 feet 3 inches (97 cm.) to 

 4 feet 5 inches (132 cm,) in length were examined. They had all small 

 ovaries. The eggs observed in two specimens were 'l? and "2 mm. 

 respectively in diameter. 



Five fishes were obtained in March. They measured from 3 feet 1| 

 inches (93 cm.) to 4 feet 3^ inches (128 cm.). The smallest fish had ova 

 •1 mm. in diameter, while two, measuring 4 feet 1 inch and 4 feet 3| inches, 

 had eggs "25 mm. in diameter. These eggs were visible to the naked eye. 



In April, a specimen 5 feet 6 inches (165 cm.) had white yolked eggs 

 measuring from '25 to "5 mm, in diameter. This fish was thick and in good 

 condition. 



One conger was dissected in May. It was 4 feet 3^ inches (128 cm.) 

 long. The eggs were whitish, and measured "15 mm. in diameter. 



Two examples obtained on July 11 measured 2 feet 7 inches (77 cm.) 

 and 4 feet 1 inch (122 cm.). The eggs measured -12 mm. and -2 mm. in 

 diameter respectively. 



In August, six congers measuring from 3 feet 1| inch (93 cm.) to 4 feet 

 3 inches (127 cm.) were examined. The eggs varied from '12 to '17 mm. 

 in diameter. 



