. 
of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 253 
which was caught by the steam trawler “Chinkiang,” 25 miles 8.-E. by 
E. from Aberdeen in March last, and which was received alive at the 
Marine Laboratory. It was 14 inches in length and was everywhere 
destitute of pigment, except on the upper surface of the head and gill- 
cover and at the root of the ventrals, where a small patch existed. The 
ocular side was as white as the blind side. The fish was put into a tank 
along with other flat-fishes and was exceedingly conspicuous as it lay on 
the bottom. It lived for over two months and was found dead on 19th 
May. 
in the Report for last year * I described another albino plaice, so 
that they are not extremely rare. | 
The specimen above described was interesting also as giving an 
example of the tenacity of life in this species. It was caught by the 
“ Chinkiang” about two in the morning, put with the other plaice and 
brought to market; it was being packed in a box in the usual way about 
ten o'clock, when it was discovered by Mr. Robb, who sent it to the 
laboratory in fresh water as preferable to the impure water of the 
harbour, 
THE SPAWNING OF THE Cop IN AUTUMN IN THE NortH SEA. 
Under this title, I contributed last year to the Publications de 
Circonstance (No. 8, 9) of the International Council for the Exploration 
of the Sea, a paper in which I described the occurrence of shoals of 
spawning cod in autumn, on a ground known as the “ Reef,” lying 
about 180-190 miles E. by N., or E. by 3-N., from Aberdeen, that is to 
say, close to the deep water of the Norwegian Channel, and about 
seventy or eighty miles from the coast of Norway. <A few additional 
observations on the subject may be here mentioned. 
Last year the fishing on this ground was begun about the middle of 
July by one of the steam liners (the “ Vigilant”), and later by others, 
and it was continued till late in the year. . Mr. Forbes, the skipper of 
this vessel, informed me that the grounds on which they were fishing 
were situated 195 and 196 miles E. 3-N. from Aberdeen in 55 and 56 
fathoms of water. He states that there is another patch of rough 
ground about 50 miles to the northwards where they also get spawning 
cod in autumn. In August I noticed the ripe cod in the fish-yards and 
traced them to the “ Reef” grounds, and I got Mr. Forbes to keep a 
tally of the cod taken on two of his voyages. The first occasion was 
30th August and the position was 165 miles E. 2?-N., the depth being 
56 fathoms. The number of cod caught was 18 score, or 360 fish, and 
the number from which the milt or eggs were observed to be running 
as they were brought on board was 37 males and 28 females, or nearly 
19 per cent. On this occasion, I was informed, the vessel was not quite 
on the proper grounds; they were a little too far north and, owing to 
fog, they were unable to see the sun to determine their position. When 
on the right ground, they say that practically all the cod taken are 
either spawning or full, or spent. The next occasion was the 14th 
September, the position being nearly the same, viz., 196 miles E. 2-N., 
and the depth 55 fathoms. Forty-one score of cod, or 820 fish, were 
taken, and the number observed to be “running” was 83 females and 
67 males, or again nearly 19 per cent. One or two ling were also found 
to be spawning, but as a rule they were beginning to “fill up.” 
It is of interest to note that the largest average catches of cod 
obtained by the Aberdeen steam-liners are taken from the area in 
*Page 286, 
