of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 193 
214mm. This would give a range in size of 87 mm. or 34/, inches, and 
an average size for the thirty-six specimens of 161°5 mm. or 6% inches, 
the maximum being about 8% inches and the minimum 5 inches. In that 
case the two specimens of five-and-a-half inches caught in March and 
April would be under the mean size—as, of course, they might well be. 
The haddock, it may be said, whose main hatching or larval period is 
about the early part of April, attains on an average a length of close upon 
seven inches (169°6 mm.) in November, the ascertained range, from many 
hundreds of specimens, being from 127 mm. to 220 mm,.* The spawning 
of the angler is later; but, on the other hand, the adult is very much 
larger than the adult haddock and its growth ought to be quicker, and 
unless the transformation stages of the angler cause considerable 
retardation of growth in length, the sizes above given probably represent 
approximately the real sizes at the period. The end of the group, 
however, may possibly be at 180 mm., or about 73 inches. On that basis 
the calculated mean size would be 10 mm. less—viz., 151°0 mm., or a little 
under six inches. It is also to be borne in mind that the smallest 
anglers of the true natural series are probably absent. 
The second series in the November specimens begins apparently at 
235 mm., there being none between this and 214 mm, ‘The specimens at 
the different sizes are somewhat irregular in numbers, but the end of the 
group appears to occur at 402 mm. or 15} inches, the average size being 
about 318 mm. or twelve-and-a-half inches. This would represent a 
mean-growtkh in a year, from the average of the first group, of a little over 
six inches. The series may, however, end at 380 mm., in which case the 
mean-size would be about 30°5 cm. or twelve inches, 
If we turn now to the next best series of measurements, that for the 
end of July and beginning of August, it will be seen that the first series 
represented begins at 19 em.—192 mm.—or at a little over seven-and a- 
half inches. Its termination is less clear, but seems to be at 315 mm. 
it might be 306 mm. The mean-size of the series is by computation 
252-5 mm., and by the graphic system 250 mm., or about 9Z inches. On 
the basis above stated, this would indicate a growth of the same series 
from the November preceding of about 90 mm. or three-and-a-half inches 
—that is to say, in the months December—July—and a growth to the 
following November of about 68 mm. or 23 inches, that is in August, 
September, and October, the aggregate being about six-and-a-quarter 
inches, which fairly corresponds. 
The second group at the beginning of August begins at 319 mm. or about 
123 inches, and appears to extend to 495 mm. or nineteen-and-a-half 
inches, the mean-size being about 40°5 cm. or sixteen inches. The fish in 
this series may be regarded as about two years and three months old. 
The average increment in a year as computed from the average of the 
previous series amounts to about 15°5 cm., or a little over six inches, 
which also approximately corresponds with the increment deduced from 
comparison of the averages in the previous cases. Compared with the 
second series in November, there is a difference in the mean-size in the 
two cases of 87 mm., or nearly three-and-a-half inches, which represents 
approximately the amount of growth from November to the beginning of 
August. The facts seem to show that the growth of the angler is more 
regular throughout the year than in the case of the haddock, whiting, 
plaice, and dab, being less retarded in winter and less accelerated in 
summer. ‘This is what might be expected in a fish inhabiting, as a rule, 
water of some depth, where the temperature changes at different seasons 
are less pronounced. 
* Twentieth Annual Report, Part I11., p. 402. 
