Holt — Survey of Fishing Grounds, West Coast of Ireland. 401 



HAKE — Merluccius vulgaris. 

 Total number caught, 31. 



Number Examined, 22 — Males, 9. Females, 13, 

 Number approaching Ripeness, 7 — Males, 2. Females, 5. 

 Number Ripe, 2 — Males, 1. Females, 1. 

 Number Spent, 13 — Males, 6. Females, 7. 



In March, 2 males were approaching ripeness (1 nearly ripe), and 1 male and 

 1 female were spent. In April, 1 male was spent, 2 females were half ripe, and 

 1 female was spent. In May, 2 females were nearly ripe, and 2 were spent. In June 

 (last week), 1 female was half ripe, 1 was ripe, and 1 spent. In August, 1 male was 

 ripe, and 4 males and 2 females were spent. Thus it appears that spawning is pro- 

 tracted from the end of March, if not earlier, until July, but the evidence is insufficient 

 to indicate a preponderance of spawning fish in any particular month. The pelagic 

 eggs did not occur in the tow-nets. Professor M'Intosh has recorded a ripe male in 

 August on the east coast of Scotland. Further than this there is no definite informa- 

 tion on the spawning of this fish in British waters. Ewart and Fulton (7th Ann . Rep. 

 S. F. B., 1889) think that spawning takes place " late." 



Distribution of Spawning Fish. 



One male was ripe in 25 fathoms, and 1 nearly ripe in 115 fathoms. One female 

 was ripe at 25 fathoms, 2 nearly ripe at 74 to 80 fathoms. Tkree were half ripe at 25, 

 38, and 154 fathoms respectively. On the other side of the Atlantic, fish have been 

 found spawning at a maximum depth of 487 fathoms, so that the vertical range of 

 spawning fish is enormous ; but no spawning seems to take place in shallow water (less 

 than 25 fathoms perhaps), though it may occur at a comparatively short distance from 

 the shore {vide St. 53). 



XjING- — Molva vulgaris. 

 Total number caught, 203. 



Number Examined, 137 — Males, 59. Females, 78. 

 Number approaching Ripeness, 21. Males, 6. Females, 15. 

 Number Ripe, 42 — Males, 37. Females, 5. 

 Number Spent, 70— Males, 15. Females, 55. 



The remainder of those examined were immature. 



Table showing the Distribution in Months. 



SCIEN. PROC. R.D.S., VOL. VII., PART IV. 



2K 



