436 



Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



locked bays, e. g. Blacksod and Cleggan Bays, &c., at least during the time that we 

 visited them. As to the habitat of the immature Haddock our evidence is almost 

 entirely negative. From Fulton's researches it appears, however, that they frequent 

 comparatively deep water. His smallest specimens, under an inch in length, and 

 unfortunately not preserved, occurred in 30 fathoms at 15 miles from shore. Giinther 

 has recorded 3 specimens, 2| to 3^ inches, from 10, 15, and 90 fathoms, on the west 

 coast of Scotland. From Irish waters our evidence, purely negative, goes to confirm 

 the belief that the very small Haddocks certainly do not consort with the Cod, Coal-fish, 

 and Pollack of the same size, in very shallow water, nor with the "Whiting a Little deeper. 

 Moreover, they were not amongst the few very small Poor Cod taken at 23 to 26 fathoms, 

 nor amongst the large number of minute Gadus argenteus (from | inch to 3 inches), 

 taken at 50 to 60, and 80 fathoms. Fulton considers that the very young Haddock 

 "soon seek the bottom, and probably chiefly rocky ground (where the trawl cannot be 

 used), at some distance from shore." The suggestion merits attention, and I think it 

 may be said that all evidence, positive and negative, points to the moderate depth, say 

 20 to 50 fathoms, as the nursery of this species, the distance from land (and to some 

 extent, the depth) of course depending on the declivity of the particular locality. 



WHITINGr — Gadus merlangus. 



Of 81 "Whiting captured, measurements are given of 78, and 3 are recorded as 

 small. 64 were mature ; only 14 less than 7 inches, and 11 less than 4 inches. The 

 least depth at which a matiure form occurred is perhaps 5 fathoms, as one was taken in 

 a haul at 19 to 5 fathoms. Otherwise the evidence seems to show that mature "Whiting 

 are must abundant between the 20 and 40 fathom lines. Of the smallest examples taken 

 one, 3|- inches long, was found under the umbrella of a large jelly-fish (Cgancea), and 

 the remainder amongst the Zostera beds, in company with young Coal-fish, &c. Fulton 

 gives most interesting observations on the distribution of immature whiting on the East 

 coast of Scotland. He computes that in the autumn of 1889 above 230,000,000, mostly 

 ranging from 3 to 5 inches, were present in the Firth of Forth and the neighbouring 

 waters, chiefly in 15 to 30 fathoms, and comparatively scarce in shallow waters near 

 the shore. Thus it would appear that whilst the youngest stages are pelagic, as 

 demonstrated by Professor M'Intosh, the home of the bulk of the somewhat older forms 

 is at a moderate depth, but few, such as those we met with in Blacksod Bay, occurring 

 in the very shallow water. Great numbers of "Whiting, about 4 to 7 inches, are some- 

 times caught on the haddock-lines, in or off St. Andrew's Bay, even as Professor M'Intosh 

 remarks in his Eeport on the Trawling Commission, to the annoyance of the liners. 

 They come chiefly, I think, from sandy ground at about 12 fathoms. 



