400 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



POLiIiACK — Gadus pollacMus. 

 Total number caught (and identified^), 122. 



Number Examined, 44 — Males, 19. Females, 25. 

 Number approaching Ripeness, 7 — Males, 1. Females, 6. 

 Number Eipe, 6 — Males 4. Females, 2. 

 Number Spent, 17 — Males, 5. Females, 12. 



The remainder of those examined were immature. 



Table showing the Distribution in Months. 



The numbers are so small that a percentage table would be of little value. It 

 appears that the pollack spawns in April, and probably as late as June, as, a half -ripe 

 female occurred after the middle of May. As the number of spent fish of both sexes 

 is as high as that of the ripe, and fish approaching ripeness in April, it is likely that 

 spawning takes place to some extent before that month. Thus the spawning period 

 would seem to be from March to June, chiefly in April, but our evidence is very insuffi- 

 cient ; Fulton's is entirely negative. The eggs of the pollack are pelagic, and do not 

 differ much in size from those of the whiting and poor cod, from which they are not 

 otherwise distinguishable in the early stages. I know nothing of the later and larval 

 and post-larval stages,^ and no eggs were recognised in the tow net collections. 



Distribution of Spawning Fish. 



Of the 4 ripe males 1 occurred in 19 to 30 fathoms, and 3 in 38 to 40 fathoms. 

 One ripe female was in 5 to 10 fathoms, and the other in 38 fathoms. Another female 

 was nearly ripe at the same place. Hence it appears that spawning takes place both in 

 shallow and comparatively deep water, but our evidence is insufficient to indicate a 

 preponderance either waJ^ 



SILVERY VOTJT— Gadus argenteus. 



Some considerable number, examined on the 4th July, from 220 and 144 fathoms, 

 appeared to be spent. 



^ There appears to be a number of very small examples amongst the tow net col- 

 lections. 



-The diameter is I'll to 1'16 mm. 



