58 Part [II.—Twenty-first Annual Report 
The second class, or large codlings, vary to a much greater 
extent. On the deep-water grounds the average was nearly always 
much higher in May and June than in September and October, 
being 19°4 for May, 19:8 for June, and 6:1 and 7:4 for the two latter 
months. In October the highest average of all was Aberdeen Bay with 
23°3. The percentage of large codling was always high in the deep 
water, being 93°8 in May to 59°4 and 86:9 in June, 88°5 in Septem- 
ber, and 78°4 in October. In Aberdeen Bay it was 20:0 in May, 10°6 
in September, and 88:2 in October. In the Moray Firth it was 44°3 
in May, 55:9 in June, 0°6 in September, and 85:8 in October. In the 
latter months the proportion in the inshore waters was thus high. 
The variation in the abundance of the small unmarketable codling 
was also very marked. In all cases the average was least in the deep 
water hauls, ranging from 0:0 to 0°5 per hour’s fishing, while in 
Aberdeen Bay the average ranged from 0:4 to 7:2, and in the Moray 
Firth from 0°6 to 6:1. The percentages also show a considerably 
greater proportion of young codlings near the coast. Thus while in the 
deep water the percentage to the older fishes was 1:5, 2°3, 3:0, 0-0, 
and 1:9, it was in Aberdeen Bay 2:0, 21:4, 84:7 (in September), and 
9°9, and in the Moray Firth 37:2, 12°7, 91:3, and 8:7. On the 
Fisher Bank in June the percentage was 34:3. 
These averages and percentages indicate that the cod in its younger 
stages—up to about two years of age—is not present in numbers at the 
bottom in the deep water, and that it is much more abundant near the 
coast. 
In considering the three classes into which the cod is divided by the 
trawlers certain facts must be borne in mind. Those classed as cod and 
marketable codlings represent the numbers on the ground at the time, 
so far as can be determined by a trawl, that is to say none of them 
escape through the meshes of the net. The averages therefore truly 
indicate the numbers present, but there may be in some cases a slight 
variation due to the selection, 2.¢. a largish fish may be classed some- 
times with the codlings and sometimes with the cod. For the purpose 
of determining the size-limits of the three classes I have tabulated 
my notes of measurement in a considerable number of cases. The 
lower limit of cod is usually about twenty-seven inches; occasionally 
one at twenty-six inches was included. The upper limit of 
marketable codlings was usually twenty-five inches; in a few instances 
I find twenty-six inches, and even twenty-six and a half and twenty- 
six and three-quarters. The division may, therefore, be placed at 
twenty-seven inches, which corresponds also with the approximate size 
at which the majority of cod become mature for the first time. The 
lower limit of marketable codlings ranges in different lots from ten 
and a half to.twelve, and even twelve and a half and twelve and three- 
quarter inches, and the highest limit of the unmarketable from ten and 
a half to eleven and three-quarters and occasionally twelve inches. 
Eleven and a half inches may be taken to represent the division as a 
rule. The lower limit of the third class or unmarketable varied in 
different cases. Setting aside some instances in which a few of about 
six inches were caught, the majority of the smaller forms had a mini- 
mum size ranging from seven and a quarter to eight and a half and 
occasionally to nine inches. Considerable numbers of these smaller 
codlings must escape through the meshes of the net; the largest found 
in the fine-meshed net which had thus passed out had a size ranging 
from six and a half, up to eight, and occasionally to eight and three- 
quarter inches. The third class is thus imperfect, but may be taken as 
fairly representing the codlings between eight and a half or nine inches, 
