Holt — Survey of Fishing Grounds, West Coast of Ireland. 405 



BHILIj — Ehoonhis Icevis. 



Total number caught, 94. 



Number Examined, 79— Males, 39. Females, 40. 

 Number approacbing Ripeness, 20 — Males, 15. Females, 5. 

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

 Number Spent, 29— Males, 16. Females, 13. 



The smallest spent male is 12 inches, the rest from 14 to 15 inches. No spent 

 females are less than 15 inches. 



The remainder of the fish examined are recorded as immature, viz. 2 males and 7 

 females, in May. 



Table Showing the Distribution in Different Months. 



Table Showing Percentage to Number of Same Sex Examined in Month. 



The pelagic eggs were only recognised once, in June, in the tow-nets, and then 

 rather doubtfully. 



It appears from the above that spawning is carried on during the months of April, 

 May, June, and July, and probably in March, but principally in April, May, and June. 

 The absence of any females approaching ripeness in the last three months probably 

 indicates that spawning is not carried on later than July or only in a very few cases. 

 Fulton got a ripe female in May^ on the east coast of Scotland. 



Distribution op Spawning Fish. 



Of the ripe females 8 occurred in Blacksod Bay in 4 to 10 fathoms ; 1 in Lough Swilly 

 in 8 to 12 fathoms ; 1 in the Kenmare River in 20 fathoms ; 1 in Inver Bay in 25 



^ Other examples have since been taken in May and June. 



