SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 117 



The condition of gonads was noted and was recorded by 

 Hjort's notation. In addition scales were taken from each 

 fish for the estimation of the age. 



There was a marked difference between the two samples. 

 The samples taken in June had a mean length of 203 mm., 

 measured from tip of snout to base of tail [T.cd.]. The fish 

 in this sample had only a moderate amount of fat in the ventral 

 cavity, and, with few exceptions, were virgin fish in the first or 

 second stage of maturity. 



The investigation of the sex composition showed the 

 males to predominate by about 16 %. No food could be found 

 in the stomachs. 



The examination of the scales showed the sample to consist 

 of 55-8 % of fish with two completed winter rings, 37 % with 

 three, 5-8 % with four, 0-5 % with five, and 1-00 % with six, 

 so that the sample may be regarded as consisting almost 

 entirely of fish, with two or three winter rings on the scales. 



The very trying work of scale-reading, including the 

 calculation of the percentage-growth rates was only made 

 tolerable by the help of Miss H. Mabel Lewis, Research Assistant 

 in the Department of Oceanography, and for her amiability 

 and patience I am much indebted. 



The September catch, taken about 12 miles W.S.W. of the 

 Calf of Man, had a mean length of 234 mm., and was a good 

 sample of fish with considerable intestinal fat. Practically 

 the whole of this sample was in the fifth stage of maturity. 

 Males predominated by about 7 %. Several specimens were 

 found with the stomachs full of Meganyctiphanes norvegicus. 



Scale examination revealed the following grouping : — 

 5-9 % with two winter rings, 54 % with three, 21-1 % with four, 

 32-1 % with five, 224 % with six, 7-6 % with seven, 54 % with 

 eight, 04 %with nine. 



