of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



190 



miles from Kinnaird Head. They appeared to belong to two groups, the 

 first consisting of eleven, ranging in length from 125mm. to 172mm.. 

 with an average of 154*3mm., and the second of five specimens from 183 

 to 202mm., the average being 1902mm. 



On 14th November, 1903, 432 were taken in thirty fathoms off Burg, 

 head Bay, belonging to two series. The first comprised 369 specimens, 

 varying in length from 75 to 137mm., the average size being 108-Omm., 

 the mean 106mm., and the maximum ordinate 10*5cm. The second 

 series, of sixty-three fishes, extended from 141mm. to 173mm., the average 

 size being 150*5mm., the mean 157mm., and the maximum ordinate 

 15*5cm. 



In the same locality another collection was made, in thirty fathoms, 

 on 28th December, 1903, and 307 specimens procured, all belonging to 

 the same series. The sizes ranged from 88mm. to 124mm., the average 

 being 103*4mm., the mean 106mm., and the maximum ordinate 10*5cm. 



A fourth collection in this locality was procured on 1st April, 1904, 

 aud apparently only one series was represented. It comprised 347 

 specimens, ranging in size from 93mm. to 139mm., the average being 

 110-2mm. or 4| inches, and the mean 116mm. 



On 23rd January 1904, 250 specimens were procured in fifty fathoms, 

 off Kinnaird Head, three series being represented. The first consisted of 

 205, ranging in size from 96mm. to 136mm. ; the average was 115*3, the 

 mean 116mm., and the maximum ordinate 12*5cni. The next group was 

 composed of forty-four, from 145mm. to 181mm.; the average being 

 158-6, the mean 163mm., and the maximum ordinate 15*5cin. There 

 was a large one measuring 203mm. 



The particulars are given in the accompanying Table : — 



Date and 





Series 



I. 





Series 



II. 



Series III. 



Place. 



No. 



Range. 



Average. 



No. 



Range. 



Average. 



No. 



Range. 



Average. 







Mm. 



Mm. 





Mm. 



Mm. 





Mm. 



Mm. 



Off Burghead, 





















14th Nov. 1903, 



355 



75-126 



107-0 



77 



127-173 



147-1 









28th Dec. „ 



307 



88-124 



103-4 















1st April 1904, 



347 



93-139 



110-2 















Off Kinnaird 



Head, 

 4th July 1901, 



11 



125-172 



154-3 



5 



183-202 



190-2 









23rd Jan. 



205 



96-136 



115-3 



44 



145-181 



158-6 



1 



203 





In these collections it will be observed that as a rule the second series is 

 poorly represented. The apparent annual increment of length amounting 

 in the three cases in which comparison can be made to 40*1, 35*7, and 

 43'3mm., the mean of the three being 39 -7mm., or 1| inches. 



The information that may be derived from the Table as to the rate of 

 growth from one date to the other is not very great, the successive 

 averages irrespective of place being 107*0, 103*4, 115*3, 110'2 and 154*3. 

 The latter is based upon only eleven specimens, and is too large, larger, 

 indeed, than the average in November, 147*1, which deals with the 

 measurement of seventy-seven fishes. 



