a | 
of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 13 
Cop rrom ABERDEEN, CAUGHT OcroBEeR 1900. 
Length of fish 8°6cm. (32 inches). Length of scale from side of body 
‘94mm., breadth ‘46mm. Number of concentric lines on scale 10 or 11. 
No winter zone. Age six or seven months. 
Specimens or Cop From ABERDEEN, CAUGHT NovemBer 10, 1904. 
Of the following four specimens only parts of the skin and pectoral 
girdle were examined, so that only the scales give indications of age. 
(1) Length of jish 47:Oem. (1 ft. G4 in), 9, immature.—Length of 
scale 24mm. ‘Two winter zones distinguished Within the first winter 
zone 9 or 10 rings, from first to seconl 19 or 20, outside the second 
6 or 7. Age inferred two years and about six months. The rings 
in this and other cases are counted on the posterior part of the scale, as 
they do not all seem to extend round the whole scale. 
(2) Length of fish S4em. (1 ft. 92 in.), 3, tmmature.—Number of 
lines in first annual zone 9 or 10, in second 13, in third 10, beyond 9. 
Probable age three years six months. I was not quite certain in this 
case about the number of winter zones in the outer part of the scale ; the 
total number of complete annual zones may have been two or three, but 
three seemed more probable. 
(3) Length of fish G4em., (2 ft. 12in.), 2, immature.—First zone 10 lines, 
secoud 12 to 14 lines, third 12 lines, outside 8 or 9. Some doubt as in 
previous specimens, Age of fish three years six months, or possibly two 
ears six months. 
(4) Length of fish 73cm. (2 ft. 54 in.).—¢ with large testes but not 
ripe, probably mature. First zone 10 lines, second 12 to 15, third 12 to 
15, beyond 4 or 5, Probable age three years six months, 
SPECIMENS OF CoD CAUGHT aT ABERDEEN ABOUT Marcu 9. 
(1) Length of fish 24:3cem. (i0 in.).—Otolith shows two annual 
zones. Scale also shows two zones; number of rings in first 13 or 14. 
Age inferred two years. 
(2) Length of fish 30-5cm. (121 in.).—Both scales and otolith indicate 
two annual zones. Inferred age two years. 
(6) Length of fish 30-Tem. {12} in.).—In the scales a single winter 
boundary zone is quite evident. It is also evident that the ridges are 
close together at the edge of the scale, showing that the winter growth 
was nearly or quite finished when the fish was killed. Inferred age two 
years. A transverse section of the otolith also showed two annual zones 
(pl. viii., fig. 16). 
(4) Length of fish 53-5em. (152 in.).—In scales one complete annual 
zone and another outside it. It seemed as if the two or three outermost 
rings belonged to the commencement of the new summer's growth, but I 
was not sure of this. Number of rings in first annual zone 14-15, in 
second 16, beyond 3. ‘Transverse section of otolith also showed two 
complete annual zones. Both in scales and otoliths a slight interruption 
was visible in the first summer’s growth, but this did not seem to be a 
definite winter zone. Such an interruption might occur probably enough 
occasionally from unfavourable conditions. Age inferred two years. 
The following specimens of cod were obtained at the same time, and 
the heads were sent to me, with labels indicating the size and condition 
of the fish :— 
(1) Length of fish 44°3em. (172 in.), 12 lbs. weight. —Q with small 
ovary, probably immature. Otolith in transverse sectio shows three 
annual zones. Inferred age three years, 
