of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 251 
X.—ICHTHYOLOGICAL NOTES. 
By Dr. T. Wemyss Fuuron, F.R.S.E., Superintendent of Scientific 
Investigations. 
CONTENTS. 
PAGE. 
The Young of the Conger (Leptocephalus), - = - - 251 
The Anchovy (EZngraulis encrasicholus), - - - - 252 
The Catfish (Anarrhichas | ee, - = - 2 = e252 
An Albino Plaice, - - ae 252 
The Spawning of the Cod in Apeaan i in the North Sea, - - 253 
THe YOUNG OF THE ConcER (Leptocephalus). 
In last year’s Report I described and figured two specimens of 
Leptocephalus,* both taken in the Moray Firth, one in December and 
the other in February. On 4th May last the Laboratory attendant, 
while using a small trawl of very fine netting, fitted on an iron frame, 
like a dredge-frame, for the capture of newly-transformed flat-fishes, 
caught a third specimen, and part of another. The drag was made in 
Aberdeen Bay, opposite the Bathing Station, in from four to five 
fathoms of water, and the fish in the net were brought ashore alive and 
placed in a tank in the tank-house at the Marine Laboratory. Next 
morning, on examining the tank, the Leptocephalus was discovered 
alive, concealed in a chink. Besides this living specimen, the head part 
of another of apparently the same stage and dimensions was found 
adhering to the net; it had been cut off about a centimetre behind the 
head, probably by the action of the edge of the iron frame dragged 
along the bottom. Other similar hauls in the same locality were made 
on succeeding days, but no other specimens were secured. 
The living specimen was transferred to a large glass basin, on the 
bottom of which sand was strewn, and a stone with sea-weed growing 
on it was placed in the centre. Tow-nettings and also collections of 
crustacea from the beach, as well as minced mussels latterly, were 
placed in the tank. Here the young conger lived and thrived until 
13th June, when it disappeared. It was observed by the attendant in 
the morning, but was missed a few hours later. ‘The overflow was 
carried away by two S-shaped glass tubes, acting as syphons, and 
removing the water at a little distance below the surface. The bore of 
these tubes was about four millimetres in diameter, and it is not easy to 
understand how the Leptocephalus could have made its exit through 
either of them. 
As it was desired to rear it if possible, it was not removed from the 
vessel for examination. So far as could be judged, it was about five 
inches in length and about a centimetre in breadth, and corresponded 
closely to the second of the two forms described last year, and identified 
as L. punctatus, of Kaup. The myotomes and the median row of black 
dots could be seen distinctly, but none were observed on the ventral 
margin. It was slightly whitish, but translucent and almost trans- 
* Twenty-Second Annual Report of the Fishery Board jor Scotland. Part III., p. 281. 
