12 Part [II.—Twenty-third Annual Report 
October on certain grounds lying off the coast of Norway, and 
about 190 miles N. by E. of Aberdeen. The previous description 
appeared in the bulletin (Publications de Circonstance) of the 
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. The fact 
that the cod, whose great spawning-time, as is well known, is in 
spring, should also spawn in autumn is of interest. It has been 
shown, moreover, that the temperature of the water at the grounds 
referred to when spawning occurs is the lowest for the year. 
INVESTIGATION ON THE HERRING IN THE FIRTH OF CLYDE. 
In connection with the winter herring fishing at Ballantrae 
Bank, off the coast of Ayr, arrangements were made for an 
investigation of the conditions of the fishing in relation to the 
operation of the Bye-law, No. 18, by which the use of the seine for 
the capture of herrings within a defined area there is prohibited. No 
fishing however took place last year. Only one trial was made by 
a single boat, and the catch was only about seven hundred small 
herrings. The “appearances” of herrings were not favourable, 
and the market prices, as given in the newspapers, were so low 
that the men did not think it worth while to start the fishing and 
give up the cod-net and line fishing. That there were herrings on 
the Bank was shown by their presence in the stomachs of cod and 
saithe, as reported by the Fishery Officer, and by the coating of 
herring spawn on the cod nets. 
An investigation is also being made on the herrings in other 
parts of the Firth of Clyde, more especially in Lochfyne, where 
monthly observations are made on the temperatures, the abundance 
of herring-food, &c., and marking experiments have been instituted 
to determine, if possible, the migratory movements of the herrings. 
GENERAL INDEX TO THE SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 
A paper, prepared by Dr. Fulton, is given in the present report, 
embodying a general index to the scientific reports of the Board 
since the commencement of scientific investigations in 1882. The 
reports are twenty-two in number, and as they embrace a great 
variety of subjects connected with the sea fisheries in their 
scientific aspects, it is hoped the index may be useful to those 
engaged or interested in fishery investigations. 
We have the honour to be, 
Your Lordship’s most obedient Servants, 
ANGUS SUTHERLAND, Chairman. 
D. CRAWFORD, Deputy-Chairman. 
D’ARCY W. THOMPSON. 
W. R. DUGUID. 
L. MILLOY. 
D. MEARNS. 
H. WATSON. 
WM. C. ROBERTSON, Secretary. 
