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Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



GREY GUIINAIID — Trigla gurnardus. 



812 gurnard were caught and 804 measured. Of these about 390, or less than 

 half (48 per cent.), were mature, the remainder, about 52 per cent., being immature. 

 The above Table shows a pretty general distribution of the species, both mature and 

 immature, between and 80 fathoms, as the zone between 55 and 74 fathoms was little 

 explored by the trawl. The large number of small gurnard between 20 and 25 fathoms is 

 due to a single haul (St. 147) in the Sth. Sound, between Aran and Moher, in which 300 

 specimens between 3 and 1^ inches were taken. The smallest specimens, j to ^ inch, 

 were taken in very shallow water, but the occurrences of specimens between 1 and 

 2 inches between 40 and 45 fathoms seems to show that the youngest stages are some- 

 times found in comparatively deep water. M'Intosh and Prince record specimens a 

 little over \ inch from 25 fathoms. Fulton obtained most of his very small specimens 

 (under 5 inches) in shallow water near shore, but a few were got in deep water at a 

 distance from shore. 



PIPER — Trigla lyra. 



Of 28 piper taken only one was less than 12 inches, viz. a specimen (young) at 115 

 faths. (p. 150). The other occurred between 23 and 62 fathoms, except 2 at 144faths. 

 Thus, in all stages, this fish appears to be confined to rather deep water on this coast, 

 where it appears to have not been much noticed hitherto, though apparently not rare. 

 Vaillant found one at 222 fathoms in the Bay of Biscay, and it appears to be the most 

 bathybial representative of the British gurnards. Day, and others, have noticed that 

 it is subject to periodical disappearances, not easily accounted for, but give no record 

 of the times of year when such take place. It perhaps eludes the fishermen by retreating 

 into deeper water. During the "Fingal" cruise no piper were taken until the 

 beginning of July, after which they were fairly abundant until the end of the cruise,, 

 and none were taken by the " Harlequin " after March. 



SHORT-SPINED BXTLL-HEAD — Cottus seorpiiis. 



Two specimens of 8 inches were trawled in Kilkieran Bay, at 5 fathoms, 

 species appears to be rather rare on the West coast. 



This 



