452 



Survey of Fishing-Grounds^ West Coast of Ireland, 1890—1891. 



Locality and Distribution. — Nine specimens, from 12*1 to 2^7 cm. (4f to 9-f 

 inches) long, were trawled at 144 and 220 fathoms, 40 miles off Achill Head, on 

 the 4th July, 1890. 



The species had already been taken on three occasions off the west coast of 

 Ireland, viz. during the expeditions of the "Flying Falcon," "Flying Fox," 

 and " Research." It was previously known from the Mediterranean and off 

 Madeira, and was taken during the expedition of the " Talisman " and 

 '• Travailleur " at various points between the Bay of Biscay and the Azores. A 

 young specimen taken from the stomach of a cod-fish near Bergen is believed by 

 Collett to belong to this species,* perhaps the commonest of the European Macruri. 



It is one of the few species of Macrurus that has been recorded from above 

 the 100-fatlioms line, having been captured on one occasion during the French 

 expedition at 88 fathoms ; 345 fathoms, the depth at which it was taken by the 

 "Flying Falcon," represents the opposite extreme of its vertical range, so far as 

 it is known to us. 



Description of Specimens. — For the comparison of specimens of different sizes 

 we have chosen a series of five examples, ranging from 12'1 cm. to 23-7 cm. in 

 total length. These we shall speak of as A, B, C, D, and E. 



The following is a Table of dimensions of these specimens. 



From the above Table it will be seen that the increase of length of the species 



' Norges risk," p. 129. 



