438 



Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



appear that their usual haunt at this stage is similar to that of the Pollack, viz. on 

 rocky ground, or in its neighbourhood, at no great depth. Being an exceedingly active 

 fish they are less Liable even than the Pollack to be captured in the trawl. It is almost 

 certain that the Coal-fish, of the last stage mentioned, retire into deeper water in the 

 winter, and never thereafter resort to the shallow water to such an extent as before. 

 They cannot be looked upon as strictly bottom fish at any stage of their career, although 

 never pelagic to the same extent as the mackeral and herring. 



NORWAY POUT — Gadus esmarhu. 



Two specimens, 4 and 6J inches, were found in the stomach of a Gurnard, trawled 

 at 45 to 48 fathoms at the mouth of the Kenmare Eiver on the 30th March. In April, 

 3 of about 4 inches, were in the stomach of a Tope from 50 fathoms off Inishmore ; 

 several of the same size in the stomach of a Witch, at 45 to 50 fathoms off Inishmore ; 

 another was trawled, and several occurred in the stomachs of Cod, Whiting, and Turbot 

 at 38 fathoms, off Gregory Sound ; and on the same ground others were taken from 

 the stomachs of Pollack, Ling, and Turbot. In July, another of the same size was in 

 the stomach of a Cod taken on the long lines, at 45 to 50 fathoms, 15 miles off Beetle 

 Head, Clare Island ; and one of 6J inches was trawled at 144 fathoms, 30 miles off 

 Achill Head. All these were mature, as this fish reaches maturity at about 4 inches. 

 This fish, though not previously noticed in Irish waters, seems thus to be fairly abun- 

 dant in the deep and moderately deep water to which it is confined. Giinther, in 1888, 

 was the first to notice its occurrence in British waters, from the North-west coast of 

 Scotland, where it seems to be abundant at from 26 to 80 fathoms. It was previously 

 known from the Norway coast, "where it occurs locally in deep water in the winter 

 months" (Giinther), and from the neighbourhood of the Faroe Islands. 



POLLACK — Gadus pollachius. 

 CoMPARisoisr OF Habitats of Mature and Immature Pollack. 



The habitat of the older stages of the Pollack is pretty well known. They are to 

 be found amongst the rocky weed-covered ground on almost every coast, in shallow or 

 moderate depths ; their vertical range being co-extensive most probably with that of 

 the sheltering vegetation. It does not appear that the very large (mature) forms fre- 

 quent the shallower waters close to the shore to such an extent as the smaller ones. 

 Their habit appears to be to lie hidden amongst the weeds during the day-time, darting 



