Holt — Survey of Fishing Grounds, West Coast of Ireland. 441 



LESSEE THREE-BEARDED -ROCKJLTNGr—Moiella tricirrata. 

 A very small specimen was trawled at 4 to 12 fathoms in Gorteen Bay, and a 

 "Mackerel Midge," \\ inches in length, was taken at the surface on the 4th July, 

 40 miles from Achill Head (depth, 220 fathoms). 



LING — Molva milgaris. 



203 Ling were caught, of which 6 were immature (less than 24 inches), viz. 1 at 

 17 inches, and 5 from 21 to 23| inches. These occurred at depths hetween 16 and 

 55 fathoms, pretty evenly distributed. Of 197 mature examples, 66 were in less than 

 30 fathoms, including 6 in less than 30, of which 3 were in less than 10 fathoms, viz. 

 at 5 to 7 fathoms in Ship Sound, Boffin. Forty were at depths exceeding 60 fathoms, 

 including 8 at above 80 fathoms, viz. at 127 and 154 fathoms. The remainder (81) 

 were at depths between 30 and 60 fathoms. Thus, the mature Ling on this coast 

 appear to affect principally the deeper waters, and whilst venturing into the shallow 

 area, avoid the inner waters of bays. As to the habitat of the smaller immature 

 forms, our evidence is entirely negative, and on this subject such evidence as there is 

 from other sources is of a conflicting nature. Thus, Giinther, on the authority of 

 CoUett, remarks that " on the Norwegian coast young examples of the Ling are rarely 

 found at a less depth than 100 fathoms. Fulton, in recording 3 examples, 7 to 12 

 inches, from "deep water at the mouth of the Forth " (about 30 fathoms ?) remarks 

 that, " while very young Ling seem to be sometimes got among the tangle in shallow 

 water, the presence of immature forms in the territorial waters may be considered un- 

 common." M'Intosh and Prince, however, state distinctly that Ling about 8 and 

 9 inches abundantly frequent the rocky margins. In the summer of 1890 I took two 

 specimens, 8 and 12 inches long, the former in a rock-pool, and the latter towards the 

 margin of the Laminarian zone, at St. Andrews, and have obtained a few others about 

 the same size from the outer part of the bay. Mr. Green has taken an immature 

 specimen in Queenstown Harbour. Thus there seems good reason to suppose that the 

 young Ling are by no means uncommon near the shore, though, as I gather, 

 principally approaching it in the summer. In very early life the Ling appears to be 

 pelagic, and bears a strong resemblance to the younger "Mackerel Midge" stages 

 Rockling. 



Maerurus ccelorhynchus. 



Several specimens from 5 to 9J inches were trawled at 220 fathoms 40 miles off Achill 

 Head, on the 4th July. The largest appeared to be mature. Some small examples 

 were also taken at 144 fathoms. 



This species is known from the Mediterranean, and off Madeira, and is thought by 

 Collett to have occurred off the Norway coast. Like all the members of this genus, it 

 is an exclusively deep-sea form. 



Maerurus tequalis. 



A mature specimen of 1\\ inches, and 6 young examples, from b\ to 8 inches, were 

 trawled at 500 fathoms, 54 miles oif Achill Head, on the 11th July. 



This species was first taken by the "Challenger" 600 fathoms off the coast of 

 Portugal. It has not previously been taken in British waters. 



Maerurus rupestrzs. 

 Four specimens, 26| to 38 inches, were taken at 500 fathoms, 54 miles off Achill 

 Head, on the 11th July. This species has been taken on the Norway coast, and in the 

 Faroe channel (200 to 500 fathoms), on the American side of the Atlantic (524 fathoms). 

 Our largest example represents the largest size of which I can find a record. 



