230 



Part III. — Twenty-fourth Annual Report 



On 27th December, 1903, a collection of 494 whitings belonged almost 

 entirely to the first series. Most were aggregated between 11cm. and 

 16cm.; the apex of the curve was 13cm., and the mean about 13-5cm., or 

 about 5| inches. The smallest of the group measured 85mm. (3| inches) 

 and the largest probably 211mm., but it may have been less. 



The next collection was on the 28th December. It comprised 1209 

 whitings from the small meshed net only, the whitings obtained in the 

 trawl net having been omitted from measurement. The smallest was 

 76mm. (3 inches) and the largest 177mm.; most were aggregated between 

 10cm. and 13cm., the apex being at 12cm. and the mean at ll*5cm., or 

 about 4| inches. The low average is due to the omission referred to. 



Another collection, on 7th December, 1904, included 496 whitings, the 

 smallest being 79mm. (3| inches) and the largest 183mm. (7| inches). 

 Most were aggregated between 12cm. and 15cm., the mean being 13-5cm., 

 or 5 T 5 faI - inches. 



The sixth collection from the Dornoch Firth was on 9 th February, 

 1905, and contained 628 whitings. Nearly all belonged to the first 

 group, now approaching one year of age, and the bulk of the specimens 

 were aggregated between 11cm. and 15*5cm., the average being 13'2cm., 

 or 5^ inches. 



On the south coast of the Moray Firth, at Burghead Bay and in that 

 neighbourhood, another series of collections of whitings was made, and in 

 most of these cases two groups were represented. The first was on 20th 

 October, 1903; it comprised only 94 whitings, 47 belonging to each 

 series, and the numbers are thus small. In the first group the smallest 

 whiting was 75mm. (almost 3 inches), the largest being 146mm., and the 

 mean about 10'5cm. (4-1- inches). In the second group the smallest was 

 182mm. (7 r 3 g- inches), and the largest apparently 299mm., or llf inches; 

 the mean size was about 23*5cm., or 9| inches. The curves for the 

 measurements are a little irregular, but, so far as they go, they show a , 

 difference between the two groups, both between the actual apices of the 

 curves (or modes) and the means, of about 13cm., or 5g inches. 



The second collection, on 14th November, 1903, comprised 355 

 whitings, mostly of the two first groups referred to. The younger group 

 contained 193 whitings measuring from 81mm. to 174mm. (3|-6g inches); 

 most were aggregated between 10cm. and 14cm., the apex being at 13cm.; 

 the mean about 12cm. (4| inches), and the arithmetic average 121-8cm. 

 The curve of the second group is less regular, the apex is at 28cm., and 

 the mean about 27'5cm. (10f inches). The difference is 15cm. and 

 155em., or 5J inches. These whitings were taken further off the shore, 

 in water of 30 fathoms depth. 



In a collection made on 28th December, 1903, in the same locality, in 

 water of 30 fathoms, comprising 386 whitings, the first group, which 

 included most of them, ranged from 75mm. to 185mm. (3-7| inches). 

 The great majority were aggregated between 11cm. and 15cm., the apex 

 of the curve was at 13cm., or 5g inches, and this was also the mean, while 

 the arithmetic average was 129mm.; the second group were represented 

 by only a few, insufficient to show the limits or average size. 



Another small collection of 29 whitings was obtained on 29th Decem- 

 ber, the first group ranging from 110cm. to 184cm. 



A collection on 23rd January, 1904, in 50 fathoms, off Kinnaird Head, 

 numbered 131, and chiefly belonged to the first group. This group 

 ranged in size from 76mm. to 165mm. Most were aggregated between 

 10cm. and 13'5cm., the apex of the curve being at 12cm., and the mean 

 a little less ; the arithmetic average was 120 7mm. The second group 

 included few fishes, most being at 24cm. to 37cm. 



