L94 



Part III. — Twenty -fourth Annual Report 



between two groups is about 13cm. to 14cm., the fish being aggregated 

 at about 12cm. and 16cm. to 17cm. respectively. The figures of the total 

 measurements arranged in centimetres are as follows : — 



6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

 1 3 10 9 22 49 64 50 51 67 62 62 27 9 2 



The corresponding figures for the individual collections are : — 



Cm. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 



Sept. 2 . - - - - (3 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 - 1 - - 



„ 9,- 1 3 4 21 32 19 14 21 23 29 4 1 - - 



15 . - - 4 3 11 22 21 27 34 43 35 31 23 7 2 - 



„ 25:13531 4821 1 1----- 



Small lemon dabs, though not quite so small, were also obtained in 

 various hauls in the Firth of Forth and in the Clyde, the particulars of 

 the measurements of which, arranged in "5cm. groups, are given in 

 Tables XIV., XV. In May, in the Forth, a collection of 68 ranged in 

 length from 10cm. to 30cm., four groups being probably, but unequally, 

 represented. In the most outstanding the majority of the fishes are 

 grouped around 15cm. to 17cm., and they are thus a little larger than the 

 corresponding May collection from the Solway, where, as was previously 

 shown, plaice and dabs at all events grow more slowly than on the east 

 coast. It would appear that these fish are entering their third year, 

 the two-year-old fish being represented by the few of a smaller size. 

 There is a second aggregation of lemon dabs between 23cm. and 30cm., 

 but they not improbably represent at least two series. The figures, 

 as arranged in centimetre groups, are these : — 



10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 

 111168 11 211121 26444641 



A small collection was also obtained in August, but the number was 

 scarcely sufficient to give a reliable clue to the growth. Arranged in 

 centimetres, the measurements are these : — 



9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 

 1 3 - 2 2 2 1 3 ' 1 3 5 3 6 1 - 1 - - - 1 



The collections in the Clyde (Table XV.) were obtained in somewhat 

 deep water in the neighbourhood of Ailsa Craig. In September, those 

 taken numbered 79, and a curve of the measurements shows them mainly 

 aggregated between 12cm. and 18cm., with a deeply indented apex, the 

 maxima being at 13cm. and 16cm., thus corresponding fairly closely to the 

 collection from the Solway in the same month of the year. On the 5th 

 October a number measured from 8cui. to 25cm., the mass being 

 aggregated between 13cm. and 19cm., there also being an indentation in 

 the curve at 15cm. The figures grouped in centimetres are these : — 



8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 

 1 2 - - 3 7 9 3 9 4 7 4 1 1 - 1 2 1 - , - 



The collections from Aberdeen Bay were more numerous (Tables XIII. , 

 XIV). The largest was obtained on 21st August at the "Doghole," a 



