— 105 — JOHS. SCHMIDT 



at St. GO 1905 however we took 77 specimens in a haul ol' 150 minutes. The small fry 

 were taken in May, but some older specimens were also found at this time (see tables for 

 May 1905), wiiieh shows that spawning must take place in the early spring or perhaps 

 already in winter. A few older specimens were also taken in August beyond the 1000- 

 meter line S. W. of the Fseroes. Altogether our investigations show that this species re- 

 produces in large quantities in the waters W. and S. W. of the Fseroes. 



4. British Isles 



Nothing is said by British authors of the developmental history or the occurrence of 

 the fry of this species, which may be ascribed to the fact that in earlier years no work 

 has been done in very deep water where the blue ling and its young specially occur. It 

 has proved however, that the pelagic fry of this species occur in great quantities in 

 the waters N.W. and in part also W. of Scotland, and on the N. W. indeed in 

 such large numbers as we have never met with elsewhere within the regions investigated 

 by the "Thor" with exception of the neighbouring waters W. of the Fseroes. 



The greatest number we have taken per half hour's haul was 34 N. W. of Scotland 

 (St. 64 1905), but considerable numbers were also taken W. of Scotland, thus 53 in a haul 

 of 300 minutes (St. 72 1905) and it should be remarked that the fry were found at prac- 

 tically all our stations beyond or in the neighbourhood of the 1000-meter line^ The 

 investigations were made late in May and early in June 1905 and 1908 and at this season 

 great quantities were taken, mostly small specimens but also some older ca. 3 cm. long. 



Further, in the first days of September 1905 we took some small pelagic specimens; 

 but from the much greater abundance in May and June it must be concluded that the 

 blue ling spawns early in spring or even in winter in these waters. 



All the small specimens were found beyond or but few miles within the 1000-meter 

 line, but late in July we took a few larger specimens (length ca. 5 cm. or more) over 

 shallow water within the 200-meter line N. W. and S. W. of the Shetlands. From the 

 size of these specimens, the time of year and the enormous numbers of other organisms 

 of undoubtedly Atlantic origin (Salps etc., cf. p. 91 under Gadiculus), which were taken in 

 the same hauls, there can be no doubt that these came from places with greater depths 

 further to the west and were carried from there with the here very strong current in an 

 easterly or north-easterly direction to the places near the Shetlands where they were found 

 (cf. "General part", sect. D). 



Sailing in a southerly direction on the west of Scotland over the depths where the 

 fry of the blue ling occur, we find that the numbers gradually decrease. We still found 

 them off the northern or north-western parts of Ireland and further some specimens were 

 present in some samples from there sent me for determination by Mr. E. W. L. Holt. On 

 the other hand, we did not find them at our numerous stations S. W. of the large Irish 

 Bank in May and June 1906 and June 1905, although from the time of year and the 

 depths over which we fished, we might have expected them to be found there. On the 

 other hand we found there the fry of the related species Molva elongata. 



' Further, I may remark that the uumber of specimens was certainly not a little larger than given 

 in the tables. At the stations W. of Scotland and Ireland all the fish young could not be sorted out 

 with very great thoroughness on acconnt of the enormous masses of Salps etc. taken in each haul (often 

 many hundreds of liters). 



14 



