Holt — Survey of Fishing Grounds, West Coast of Ireland. 413 



half ripe example in October, and one nearly ripe in Marcli. I obtained a single ripe 

 female in May, and Professor M'Intosh records one taken on the 1st August. Thus 

 the period seems to be much the same as on the West coast of Ireland. 



Distribution of Spawning Fish. 

 Though a certain number of spawning females occurred at almost every depth at 

 which the mature examples were found, I think that the presence of very large 

 numbers in the outer part of Ballinskelligs Bay, 26 to 27 fathoms, is to be connected 

 with the spawning instinct. No immature forms were found amongst them, and very 

 few were spent, the great majority being nearly ripe or ripe : they do not seem to be 

 found there at any other part of the year. Thus it seems probable that some soles 

 spawn in their ordinary habitat, as in Blacksod Bay, and others move into deeper water 

 for that purpose, or at all events undergo a migration in one direction or the other. 

 The actual distribution of ripe females was as follows : — Blacksod, Inver, and Clew 

 Bays, Kenmare Eiver, and Killybegs Harbour, 12, between 5 to 15 fathoms; Ballin- 

 skelligs Bay and Dingle Bays, 7, between 22 and 35 fathoms ; oif Dingle Bay, 1, 

 at 53 fathoms. The range of spawning fish appears thus to be coextensive with that 

 of the mature forms. 



LEMON SOLE — Solea lasearis. 



2 males were ripe in Blacksod Bay in the last week in April. Depths to IJ and 

 5i to 9 fathoms. 



SOLANETTE (Little Sole)— Solea lutea. 



In April, 4 females were spent, and 1 was nearly ripe. 3 females were ripe in 

 June, and 9 males and 7 females were spent in August. The ripe females occurred at 

 16 fathoms in Galway Bay. The eggs have not been definitely identified, but I 

 believe that certain small pelagic eggs (which were obtained abundantly in Jime, and 

 the beginning of July) belong to this species. (See Sci. Trans., vol. iv., s. 3, pt. vii.). 

 April, June, and July appear to constitute the spawning period, probably the last two 

 months especially. Ewart and Fulton suppose that in the Moray Frith spawning 

 takes place chiefly in July, and in the off-shore waters. I have found eggs identical 

 with those alluded to in St. Andrew's Bay at the end of July. 



HERBrlNCr — Clupea harengiis. 



2 ripe females were taken from the stomach of a Hake on 16th August at 23 to 26 

 fathoms in the Kenmare river. 



The Herring is known to spawn at different places in different parts of the year. 

 On the East coast of Scotland the spawning period is divisible into a spring and an 

 autumn season. It is hardly necessary to say that the eggs are demersal and adhesive. 

 They were not brought up by the trawl or dredge on any occasion duriug the survey. 



SPRAT — Clupea sprattus. 



The Pelagic eggs occurred in the tow-nets in March, April, May, and June, chiefly 

 in March and April. From Cunningham's observations, the sprat seems to spawn off 

 Plymouth in January. At St. Andrew's it apppears to spawn chiefly in April and 

 May, but eggs are found as late as July. 



