282 Mr. A. T. Masterman on the Life-history 
XLI.— The Life-history and Growth-rate of the Lesser Sand- 
Eel (Ammodytes tobianus). By Arraur T. MASTERMAN, 
B.A. (Cantab.), Assistant Professor of Zoology, St. Andrews 
University. 
Since I have had my attention turned to the subject of the 
growth of fishes Professor M‘Intosh has kindly handed over 
to me for examination a unique and very complete collection 
of the lesser sand-eel. Almost every size and stage is repre- 
sented, from the embryo to the adult, and in many cases in 
such abundance as to give valuable data upon the subject at 
hand. In the ‘Twelfth Annual Scottish Fishery Board 
Report’ there appeared a table which purported to set forth 
the sizes of this collection, and I had hoped to avail myself of 
this ; but an inspection led one to detect so many inaccuracies 
and wide approximations that the table is practically useless 
as a record of facts*. I have therefore gone through the 
whole collection except one bottle (labelled April 18, 1891), 
which was. kindly worked through by my friend Mr. H. C. 
Williamson, M.A., B.Sc., a certain proportion being measured 
and the rest counted. 
Without inquiring in too much detail into any reasons for 
the inaccuracy of Fullarton’s table, we must mention that the 
sizes given by him amongst the March bottom-net series, 
* ¢On the Oviposition and Growth of the Lesser Sand-Eel,’ by J. H. 
Fullarton. We may give one instance from this paper to show to what 
kind of work our remarks refer (p. 317). The same specimens are 
entered twice :— 
Date of capture. | No. of Specimens. | Length in millims. 
1 i RR re 1 10 
6 9 
33 8 
53 7 
39 6 
15 5 
4 4 
ERG Ae Os ive sages 1 10 
6 9 
33 8 
53 a 
39 6 
18 5 
4 4 
