of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



175 



There were also nine sprats varying from 102 to 112mm. A collection at 

 Aberdeen on the 28th furnished fourteen sprats; one measured 87mm., 

 and the other thirteen ranged from 113 to 125mm., the average being 

 120*2. The average of the twenty-two of the third series in the two 

 hauls combined was 114"4mm. 



In December a number of collections were obtained from the Moray 

 Firth and Aberdeen Bay. In the latter, on the twelfth of the month, 

 seventy-three were procured belonging to three series. The first comprised 

 forty-seven fishes, the sizes of which ranged from 49 to 60mm. with an 

 average of 55 '5mm. ; the second included twenty-four from 62 to 97mm. 

 the average being 77' 6mm., and there were other two measuring 101 and 

 102mm. On the 18th, twenty-six were obtained, of which twenty-two, 

 measuring from 66 to 84mm., had an average size of 73'7mm., and four, 

 ranging from 100 to 132mm., an average of lll'7mm. On the 19th, 

 seventy-four were secured, seventy of them belonging to the second series, 

 ranging in size from 67 to 97mm., the average being 78 '7mm. ; the other 

 four measured from 104 to 111mm., with an average of 107 '5mm. On 

 the 29th, thirty-nine were taken, all belonging to the third group, the 

 sizes varying from 98 to 128mm., and the average being 111* 1mm. 



A collection made in the Dornoch Firth on the 25th of the month 

 numbered 184 fishes, all of which except sixteen belonged to the second 

 group. They ranged in size from 72 to 98mm., the average being 86 '6mm. ; 

 the other sixteen measured from 103 to 122mm., the average being 

 1 12'lmm. In a collection made on the 27th, three groups were represented ; 

 the first, comprising three fishes, had an average of 57* 7mm. ; the second, 

 ranging from 63 to 97mm., and including thirty-six fishes, had an average 

 size of 76'6mm.; the third, of fifty-four fishes, had a range of from 100 to 

 127mm., and an average size of 107'8mm. On the 28th a third collection 

 numbering 722 sprats contained three series. The first, nineteen in 

 number, ranged in size from 39 to 60mm., the average being 59'2mm. 

 The second series comprised 575 fishes, the sizes varying from 62 to 97mm., 

 and the average size being 7 9 '5mm. The third series of 128 fishes ranged 

 in size from 98 to 128mm., and the average was 109 '7mm. 



The larger or older group was well represented in a haul made in 

 Burghead Bay on the 25th December. Of 536 sprats caught 520 belonged 

 to that group, their sizes ranging from 97 to 138mm., and the average 

 being 121 -lmm. On the 28th another haul yielded a large number, the 

 second series being the best represented on this occasion. The first group 

 contained twenty-five fishes varying from 50 to 61mm., with an average of 

 55'8mm. ; the second comprised 436 sprats from 63 to 91mm., and with 

 an average of 75'2mm. ; and the third series of twenty-seven ranged from 

 96 to 124mm., the average being 116'0mm. 



When all the collections made in December are combined we have the 

 following general results. The first series of ninety-four fish ranged in 

 size from 39 to 60mm., the average being 55'8mm. ; the second group of 

 1347 fishes varied in size from 62 to 97mm., and had an average size of 

 79'5mm. ; and the third series, numbering 794 fishes, had an average size 

 of 117*4mm., and a range from 98 to 138mm. It is probable that the 

 larger forms in the third series belong to a still older group, but their 

 members are so small and the difficulty of dividing them from the series 

 immediately preceding so great that I have not attempted, to group them 

 into a fourth series. This circumstance will to a small extent raise the 

 average of the third series higher than it naturally ought to be. It must 

 also be said that the range assigned to the various groups may not be in 

 all cases the precise one that exists, for it is sometimes very difficult to 

 define the division between the series. In such cases the curves and 

 tables of millimetre measurements must be the best guide. 



