of the Fishery Board for Scotia/id. 



231 



At Findhorn, in the same neighbourhood, a collection of 293 was 

 taken on 1st April, 1904, in 30 to 32 fathoms. They belonged for the 

 most part to the second group, the sizes extending from 177mm. (7 

 inches) to about 30cm. or 31cm.; most were between 22cm. and 28cm., 

 the rnejn and average being at 25cm. (9g inches). They represent 

 whitings at nearly two years of age. 



Other collections were made on Smith Bank, in the Moray Firth, 

 usually in 22 or 23 fathoms of water. The first of these was on 23rd 

 October, 1903, when 420 whitings were taken, two groups being repre- 

 sented. The smaller, or fish spawned in the same year, ranged from 

 87mm. to 160mm. (3| — 6| inches); most measured between 11cm. and 

 13cm. ; the mean was 12cm., and the arithmetic average 128mm., or a 

 trifle over 5 inches. The second series, which included 221 fishes, 

 ranging from 200mm. to 292mm., were mostly between 20cm. and 24*5cm. ; 

 the apex of the curve was at 22cm., and the arithmetic average was 

 233mm., or a trifle over 9g inches. From apex to apex of the two 

 groups, the distance is 10cm., or 4 inches; the difference between the 

 arithmetic averages is 10'5cm., or 4|- inches. 



On 27th December, 1903, 147 whitings taken in the same locality 

 were measured, two groups being represented. The first extended from 

 113mm. to 181mm., most being aggregated under 13cm. The second 

 group extended from 207mm. to, apparently, 305mm., most being aggre- 

 gated between 23cm. and 25cm. The numbers are too few, and the 

 curves formed on the measurements too irregular, to enable any satisfac- 

 tory comparison to be made between the two groups in this case. 



Another collection of 955 whitings at Smith Bank, on 1st April, 1904, 

 was represented almost entirely by one group, the second. It extended 

 from 19cm. or 20cm. to 30cm. or 31cm. or 32cm.; most were aggregated 

 between 22cm. and 26cm., the greatest number being under 23cm., and 

 the mean size was about 24'5cm., or 9§ inches. These fish were nearing 

 their second year of age. 



A small collection of 124 whitings taken in the same locality on 12th 

 December, 1904, was limited almost entirely to ihe first group. It con- 

 tained one whiting of 75mm. (3 inches), the next measuring 110mm., 

 and the small fish were thus imperfectly represented. Most were aggre- 

 gated between 13cm. and 16cm. 



A few collections of whitings taken in Aberdeen Bay and neighbour- 

 hood were also measured. In one, on 13th May, at the " Doghole," or 

 deep depression lying a few miles off the coast, in 55 fathoms, the 275 

 fish belonged mostly to the second group, the first being imperfectly 

 indicated. The smallest whiting taken measured 115mm., or 4| inches. 

 The majority were between 19cm. and 26cm., most being at 22cm., and 

 the mean size was 22'5cm. or 8J inches. 



In a collection of 148, on 11th February, 1905, in Aberdeen Bay, the 

 smallest measured 76mm. The greatest number were between 11cm. and 

 14cm., most being at 13cm. (5g inches), and the mean w r as a trifle higher. 



On 29th March following 362 whitings were measured which belonged 

 to the first group. The smallest measured 110cm. The greater number 

 measured between 13cm. and 15cm. The apex of the curve of measure- 

 ments was at 14cm. (5| inches), and the mean was a trifle above this. 

 These were approaching one year of age. 



In a haul on 31st October, 1903, 701 whitings were obtained. In 

 the first group the smallest whiting was 56mm. (2 \ inches), and the 

 largest 181mm., or thereabout. As in some other cases in autumn, the 

 smaller fish formed a little semi-isolated group, suggesting a series of 

 younger fishes, the -5cm. grouping being as follows : — 



5-5 6 6-5 7 7-5 8 8.5 9 9 5 10 10-5 11 11-5 

 5 4 5 4 5 1 2 1 4 2 14 21 29 &c. 



