4:10 Survey of Fishing- Grounds, West Coast of Ireland, 1890-1891. 



not carried to a point as in the " Norway haddock." The general outline of the 

 head is also more rounded in Scorpsena ; and although the original figure of the 

 species given by Delaroche shows the lower jaw projecting beyond the upper, as 

 it does in Sebastes, this appears to be more the exception than the rule. Figures 

 \a and 2a show imaginary sections through the interorbital regions of the two 

 species, and it will be noted that while in Sebastes norvegicus the space is broad and 

 nearly flat, with hardly perceptible scale-covered ridges, in Scorpcsna dactyloptera 

 it is comparatively narrow, deeply concave, and beset by a pair of conspicuous 

 naked bony ridges. In Scorpcena dactyloptera^ also, the serration of the frontal 

 over the superior margin of the eye is much more strongly marked than in 

 Sebastes norvegicus. In this form the sub-orbital ridge is broad, obliquely directed, 

 and covered with scales. In Scorpcena dactyloptera it is narrow, roughly parallel to 

 the long axis of the body, and entirely naked.* In the last-named, the opening 

 of the gill-covet is almost vertical, while in the " Norway haddock " it is markedly 

 oblique. In addition, the scales in S. dactyloptera are considerably the larger. 



A difference less conspicuous than any of the foregoing, but of much greater 

 morphological importance, is found in the characters of the pectoral fin. In Sebastes 

 norvegicus the rays of this fin are all alike, and united to the extremities ; but in the 

 species before us the seven lower rays are stouter than the rest, and in adults are 

 separate for about half their length. The species thus recedes from Sebastes and 

 the true Perches, and approaches the semi-ambulatory condition of the pectorals 

 which characterises the Triglidse. A number of very young S. dactyloptera, 

 measuring from 4 to 4'5 cm. long, taken off the Skelligs at 80 fathoms, have the 

 pectoral fin entire; such is also the case in a specimen of 4f in. (12 cm. ca) 

 recorded by one of us from the Humber, but all larger examples which we have 

 seen show a partial separation of the lower rays. Our artist has unfortunately 

 treated this detached condition of the rays in the specimen figured as due to 

 artificial causes, and has restored the membrane to the extremities. 



With reference to the size at which the fish becomes sexually mature it is 

 interesting to note that a specimen measuring 71 inches was found to contain ova 

 nearly ready for expulsion. The structure of the rejiroductive organs seemed to 

 show that the species is oviparous (the " Norway haddock " is viviparous), and it is 

 probable that the ova is pelagic, as in the case of certain Mediterranean species 

 studied by Ra£faele. The greatest size reached by the species appears to be about 

 24 inches, but those from the West of Ireland do not attain to that size. It is 

 likely that the size at which maturity is reached varies somewhat in different 

 localities. 



When alive all the larger fish taken duriiig the Survey, exhibited the following 

 colouration: — The back was a brilliant vermilion, which colour descended in five 



* Our figure in this respect is in error, scales having been restored where none were actually present. 



