of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



231 



growth of the young gurnards hatched in the previous season to a greater 

 size than three inches. It also appears probable that the gurnards from 

 two to three inches in length caught in October and November belong in 

 part at least to the same year's spawning, so that those caught in 

 October might be five or six months old. Those caught in January 

 must be at least five months old, and those in May eight months old, but 

 in these cases growth would be retarded by the low temperature in the 

 winter months. In considering the sizes somewhat larger the difficulties 

 previously alluded to became more evident, inasmuch as the gap 

 separating the gurnards of different years begins to be bridged over. Still, 

 it is noteworthy that in plotting out the curves of the various sizes for 

 each month, the sizes are aggregated in various groups.. Thus in April, 

 there is a group at six inches, a group at eight inches, one at ten inches, 

 and one at twelve inches. In May there are great groups at six inches, 

 and, especially, eight inches, and at ten inches. In June the chief groups 

 are at seven and nine inches. In July a group at five inches is prominent, 

 then one, not so sharply pronounced, at 7-8 inches, and a group at ten 

 inches, In August the group at five inches is sharply marked, there is a 

 group 7-9 inches, and a pronounced group at twelve inches. In 

 September there is a group 4-5 inches, and at eight inches, ten inches, and 

 twelve inches. In October the chief group is at six inches. When the 

 hauls for each individual month in each year are analysed in the same 

 way they indicate a similar grouping. In April there is always a marked 

 drop between six inches and eight inches, which is also shown in May, 

 as well as a rise at ten and twelve inches. Individual hauls, in many 

 cases where the numbers are fairly large, give evidence of a similar 

 grouping. It would appear that the gurnards ranging about six inches 

 in length in the spring of any year are from eighteen months to two 

 years old, and that maturity is not reached until the third year, as in the 

 case of most other sea fishes. 



