of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



195 



intermediate sizes, the grow th ofthe largest of the second series not 

 having brought that series up to the third — or whether it is owing to the 

 imperfect collections. A comparison of the measurements at the different 

 dates shows that the latter factor at least partly accounts for it, inasmuch 

 as smaller specimens of the third series were obtained in January and 

 April than in November as shown : — 



Cm. 15 15-5 16 16'5 17 17'5 18 18'5 19 19'5 20 20"5 21 21"5 22 22'5 23 23'5 24 



11th Nov., Ill 2 



28th Dec, 2111 1-2 - - 2 



23rd Jan., 11- - 3111 1-122 



1st April, 8 11 78 - 2-11 - -- -11-1 23 



In the curves of measurements there is a marked drop indicating a 

 division between the third and the fourth series, but it does not agree in 

 the different cases, and is based upon not very many mixed measurements 

 of males and females. The lowest point is at 30-31 cm. in November, 

 27cm. in January, 30-31cm. in December, and 29cm. in April. Study of 

 the curves of the other series of measurements given in the Table shows 

 that the fixing of the division between the third and fourth groups must 

 be deferred. If, however, as reasoned above, a two-year-old witch 

 measures on the average about 7 inches, and the rate of growth is 

 slightly reduced, the average length when three years old will probably 

 be about 10 inches, or 25cm., with a range for the group of approxi- 

 mately from 8 J to 11 J inches. 



The average size and the range of size at which maturity is first 

 reached in the males and females are not yet sufficiently elucidated. 

 I found females ripe at 14 inches, spent at 13 inches, and nearly ripe 

 at 12| inches; and males ripe at 15 inches, nearly ripe at 1\\ inches.* 

 On the west coast of Ireland the smallest ripe female found by Holt was 

 twelve inches, and the smallest approaching ripeness was also 12 

 inches ; the smallest ripe male was 10| inches, and the smallest 

 approaching ripeness 10 inches. f 



From these facts it appears that the female witch does not spawn 

 before the fourth year ; some males may possibly become mature in their 

 third year. It is noteworthy that in this species, under certain sizes the 

 males are much more numerous than the females. In 2348 specimens 

 under 16 inches, and mostly from 10 to 13 inches, the greater part of 

 which were examined by Mr. F. G. Pearcey on board the Garland, 

 915 were females and 1833 were males, the males at these sizes being 

 thus rather more than twice as numerous as the females. In 104 

 examined by myself there were sixty-seven males and thirty-seven 

 females. Among large witches, on the other hand, from 13 or 14 

 inches upwards the proportions of the sexes are reversed. Of 422 

 examined, 306 were females (34-50cm.) and 116 males. 



7. The Norway Pout (Gadus Esmarkii). 



Since describing the observations made on the growth of this species 

 in the Nineteenth Annual Keport£ collections have been obtained and 

 measurements made on several occasions. Most of the fish were caught 

 in the Moray Firth, or off Aberdeen, but in two instances collections 

 were secured in the deep water off the Shetlands. The first haul was for 

 forty-five minutes on 19th May, 1901, in sixty-five fathoms, about 

 fifty-three miles S.E. by S. \ S. from the south point of Fetlar Island, 

 Shetland ; the bottom temperature was 42'5° C, and the surface 46-6° C. 

 The number of Norway Pouts caught was 285, almost all belonging to one 



* Eighth Ann. Rep. Fishery Board for Scotland Part III., p. 161) 1890) ; Tenth 

 ibid., p. 239. 



f Report of Council for 1891, Roy. Dublin Soc, p. 272. 

 % Part III., p. 155 (1901). 



