202 



Part III. — Twenty -fourth Annual Report 



The next series is represented in a collection from Aberdeen Bay in 

 October, and in it there are ten turbot from 27 5cm. to 30cm. (10|-li| 

 inches), which are a year older. 



The other series are shown in the Moray Firth collections in November, 

 December, and February, the sizes ranging from 33cm. to 80cm. From 

 Table XVII. it will be seen that a division appears to exist at 34-35cm., 

 and it is probable that this group extends back at least to 30-5cm., as 

 indicated in the October series. 



The arrangement of the measurements in one-centimetre groups may 

 be shown in the subjoined Table, in which column 4 summarises the 

 figures for the three months, October, November, and December, and 

 column 6 summarises them all : — 





1 



2 



3 



4 



5 



0 



Cm. 



Oct. 



Nov. 



Dec. 



Sum. of 

 I, 2, 3. 



Feb. 



Sum. of 

 1-5. 



23 



25 

 zo 

 27 

 28 

 29 

 30 

 31 

 32 

 33 

 34 



- 



2 

 2 

 4 

 2 

 1 



- 

 - 



2 

 2 



1 



- 



- 



2 

 1 



1 



- 



1 

 1 



4 



3 



- 



- 



1 



- 



2 

 2 

 4 

 2 

 1 



4 



3 



35 





1 





1 





1 



36 

 37 

 38- 

 39 

 40 

 41 





5 

 5 

 5 

 4 

 2 

 1 



5 

 2 

 3 



1 



10 

 7 



8 



4 



2 

 2 



2 

 1 

 2 

 2 

 2 



10 

 9 

 9 

 6 

 4 

 4 



42 











2 



2 



43 

 44 

 45 

 46 





2 

 4 

 4 



2 



3 



2 

 6 

 7 



4 

 2 



2 

 6 

 11 



2 



47 





1 





1 



1 



2 



48 

 49 

 50 

 51 

 52 





1 

 2 

 1 



1 



1 

 1 

 1 



2 



1 

 2 



3 



1 



There appears to be evidence in this Table of the existence of at least 

 five groups, and possibly six, if those turbot under 34cm. in November 

 and December are regarded as separate from the October group. The 

 points of probable separation of the groups, as shown in the *5cra. 

 grouping, are 34-35 -5cm., 46cm., and 50cm., or 52cm. 



The age of these turbot is considerable in any way the figures may be 

 regarded. It is possible that they represent fish of 4j, 5J, 6|, 7-J-, 8J, 

 and 9 \ years of age ; but they may be a year less, and, if the October 

 group is looked upon as terminating at about 34cm. in November and 

 December, the fishes above that size may be a year less still. 



It, however, seems certain that turbot ranging from 35cm. to 41cm. 



