283 Part III. — Eighteenth Annual Report 



length of the snout, which is almost equal to the length of the diameter 

 of the eye, which is a little less than one-third the length of the head ; 

 the slender barbel, which is about half as long as the eye; and, finally the 

 fin formula— it being D 15-16, 23-25, 22-25; A 27-29, 23-25" 

 (H.B., p. 203). Gadus esmarkii is, in some respects, not unlike Gadus 

 minutus, and may have occasionally been mistaken for that species. It is 

 occasionally taken in the shrimp trawl-net of the " Garland." 



Gadus merlangus, Linne. The Whiting. 



This is one of the more common and generally distributed of the Gadi; 

 but though extending into Upper Loch Fyne it is described as "not 

 abundant " there. The whiting appears to be more frequent in the 

 seaward portion of the Clyde estuary than it is in the more inland parts. 



Gadus poutassou, Kisso. Couch's Whiting. 



This is readily distinguished from other British Gadi by the position 

 of the dorsal fins, and especially by the distance between the second and 

 third dorsals being greater than the distance between the same fins in the 

 whiting, which it somewhat resembles. Three specimens of Gadus 

 poutassou were captured in the shrimp-trawl of the " Garland " at the 

 mouth of the Clyde estuary, in 54 fathoms, on September 22nd 1897. 

 These specimens are now amongst the collection of fishes in the Fishery 

 Board's Laboratory at Bay of Nigg. 



Gadus virens, Linne. The Coal-fish or Saithe. 



Moderately common and generally distributed, but mostly of small 

 size. Full grown coal-fish do not appear to be very plentiful in the Clyde, 

 but the young " podlies " sometimes occur in great numbers in inshore 

 localities, as at East Loch Tarbert harbour and wharf. 



Gadus pollachius, Linne. The Pollack or Lythe. 



More or less frequent, but usually of small size ; large specimens are 

 occasionally brought to East Tarbert, Loch Fyne (B. <fe S.). The 

 " Garland " also has records of lythe from Loch Fyne as well as off Sanda 

 Island. The specimens from Sanda measured from 23 to 35 inches in 

 length. Gadus pollachius has no barbel on the lower jaw. 



Merluccius vulgaris, Cuvier. The Hake. 



The hake is frequently captured in the Clyde by the " Garland " at 

 all the Stations, as many as 108 having been caught in a single haul of 

 the net ; most of the specimens are more or less immature, but sometimes 

 range from 30 to 40 inches. 



Phycis Uennioides (Brum). The Greater Fork-beard. 



The late Dr. Robertson of Millport, Cumbrae, recorded this species as 

 having been taken near Cumbrae in April 1890.* Mr. Alex. Gray, of the 

 Millport Marine Station, informs me that "the palate and forked fins of a 

 specimen of Phycis are in the Robertson collections," and are probably 

 portions of the fish referred to by Dr. Robertson, as they agree with the 

 description he gave of the specimen which he recorded. Several 

 specimens of the greater fork-beard have occurred on the coasts of the 

 Solway Firtht, but it seems to be rare in the Clyde. 



*Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. Glasgow, Vol. III. (N.S.), p. 276 (1892). This specimen 

 measured 24 inches in length. 



fDay, British Fishes, Vol. I., p. 304. 



