Holt — Survey of Fishing Grounds, West Coast of Ireland. 393 



Table showing the Distribution in Months. 



The numbers are very small. It appears that the spawning takes place in June, 

 July, and August; chiefly in July, as far as one may judge. The eggs have not 

 been described. Day mentions that Mr. Dunn thinks that spawning takes place in 

 winter (on the Cornish coast). 



DiSTEIBUTION OF SPAWNING FiSH. 



One ripe female was taken in Ballinskelligs Bay in 5 to 8 fathoms, the others in 

 the neighbourhood of the Aran Islands. The depth is not recorded. 2 ripe males 

 were got off Inishmaan in 16 to 18 fathoms, the other one in Casheen Bay, at about 

 8 fathoms. 



SAND SMELT — Atherina presbyter. 



2 males were ripe, and 1 female approaching ripeness on the 1st April in Smerwick 

 Harbour. They were taken in a seine at the sandy margin. This fish is stated, by 

 Andrews, to spawn in spring in Dingle Bay, and hj Couch in June, July, and early 

 August on the Cornish coast. The eggs are not known. I think they are demersal, as 

 in the American genus, Atherinichthys. 



ANG-LEB — Lophius piscatorius. 



Eight were examined. A male of 25 inches was ripe (at 115 fathoms), and a 

 female of 40 inches spent in March. A female of 21 inches was immature in April. 

 In June a female of 30 inches was spent ; and two specimens, 10 and 19 inches, were 

 so immature that the sex was not determinable. The same was the case in a specimen 

 of 12 inches in July, and in the same month a male of 10 inches was immature. 



This species appears to spawn in the early summer ;i the eggs are pelagic, and are 

 imbedded in huge sheets of a purplish gelatinous matter.'^ They are not often found. 



1 Thompson, however, found a female with well-developed ova in December. 



2 They were described by Agassiz and Whitman in American waters. 



