228 



Part III — Twenty -fourth Annual Report 



On 23rd October, 1903, 306 haddocks were obtained on Smith Bank, 

 representing three groups, but only the second was at all well iudicated. 

 The first group consisted of 8 haddocks from 115mm. to 204mm. The 

 second group extended from 21cm. to 28cm. or 29cm. ; most of them 

 were between 22"5cm. and 26cm. (8|— 10| inches), the apex of the curve 

 was at 25cm., and the mean was about 24'3cm., or 9^ inches. The rest 

 of the haddocks were insufficient to indicate the limits or average size of the 

 next group. One haddock measured 49cm. (19| inches) (fig. 7b, pi. XII.). 



Another collection of 62 haddocks, on 14th November, 1903, also 

 contained members of three groups, but only the second was of value as 

 regards the rate of growth. It extended from 24"7cm. to 33cm. or 34cm. 

 (9J-13 inches) ; most were aggregated between 29cm. and 32cm., the 

 apex of the curve was at 30cm., and the mean was about 28*5cm., or 11| 

 inches. There was one haddock at 52cm. (20^ inches). 



A collection of 756 haddocks on 12th December, 1904, belonged to 

 the first group, all but one. It extended from 137mm. to 208mm. (5|- 

 8| inches); most measured between 15cm. and 18'5cm. (5|-7| inches) ; 

 the apex of the curve was at 16*5cm., and the mean was 16'7cm, or 6 J 

 inches. 



Other collections of haddocks obtained in the Moray Firth, off Burg- 

 head, Kinnaird Head, Lybster, and the Dornoch Firth were measured. 



Those obtained in the Dornoch Firth are small in number, haddocks 

 usually not being caught there in any quantity. 



On 22nd October, 1903, 95 haddocks belonging to three or four annual 

 series were measured, but none of the groups are well indicated. The 

 first contained 7 haddocks, from 109mm. to 153mm. The second con- 

 tained most of the fish, but its limits are not very clear. The smallest 

 was 24-2cm. ; most were between 26cm. and 28cm. (10|-10| inches) ; 

 the apex of the curve was at 27cm., and the group apparently terminated 

 about 31cm. or 32cm. (fig. 7b, pi. XII.). 



In a haul on 13th November, the first and second series were repre- 

 sented by 22 haddocks, and in another, on the 27th December, 42 

 haddocks were taken, mostly belonging to the third series. 



At Burghead Bay, on 20th October, 1903, 248 haddocks mostly belonged 

 to the second series. The first group was represented by 30 haddocks, 

 measuring from 105mm. to 165mm. (4g-6| inches); the apex of the 

 curve was at 12cm., and the mean about 12*5cm., or 4| inches. The 

 second series extended from 23 - lcm. to about 30cm.; most measured 

 between 25cm. and 27cm. (9J-10§ inches) ; the apex was at 26cm., and 

 the mean about 25*5cm., or 10 inches (fig. 7b, pi. XII.). 



In a collection made on 29th December, 1903, 138 haddocks were 

 obtained belonging to several groups. The first included 9 haddocks, 

 from 150mm. to 206mm. The second group extended from 23*2cm. to 

 about 30cm. (9|-11| inches), most ranging between 24cm. and 28cm.; 

 the apex of the curve was at 27cm., and the mean was about 26cm., or 

 10^ inches. The rest of the haddocks were few in number. There were 

 three very large ones, measuring respectively 60cm. (23 J inches), 73"6cm. 

 (29 inches), and 74cm. (29 J inches). 



A haul on the witch ground off Kinnaird Head, in from 40 to 50 

 fathoms, on 23rd January, 1904, yielded 199 haddocks belonging to 

 several series. The first ranged from 14*3cm. to 18-8cm. (5|-7f inches), 

 most being between 14'5cm. and 17cm. ; the apex of the curve, or the 

 greatest number in the series, was at 16cm., and the mean was about 

 15"8cm., or 6J inches. 



The second group extended from 21 -2cm. to a point not easy to deter- 

 mine; most of the haddocks measured from 22cm. to 27cm., the apex of 



