of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



281 



the rockling. In the bottom-net of the 2Gth, again, an ovum, with a some- 

 what advanced embryo of Motella, appeared. 



The ova of the gurnard were common at various stages — some 

 multicelled, and others with pigment in the embryo. The eggs of the sole 

 were also not infrequent in June. 



In former years the poor cod (Gadus minutus) had been found quite 

 ripe during this month, and thus is much later than the bib. Specimens 

 7 inches long are often mature. 



The ripe pelagic ova of the Skulpin have also been obtained. From the 

 appearance of the ovaries of Labrax lupus (sea-perch), this species would 

 also seem to reach maturity in June. 



The young Pleuronectids procured in the ground-trawl formed a contrast 

 to the pelagic forms — the smallest being 6*5, and the largest 15 mm.* The 

 first mentioned was probably a flounder, with the left eye appearing over 

 the ridge. The others had the eyes further round, in various degrees. 

 JNothing in the appearance of any of these gave a clue to specific separa- 

 tion. The smallest was considerably less than the pelagic form, for 

 instance, got on 1st June, and which measured about 11 mm. The latter 

 perhaps thus pertained to the plaice, the former to the common flounder. 



[In the ground-trawl at this time young cod 27 mm. and 33 mm. were 

 obtained, and Clupeoids If inch. The former had thus reached the 

 bottom.] 



In the mid-water net the newly-hatched larva of Cydopterus lumpus 

 (5 mm. ) occasionally occurred ; and also about the middle of the month 

 two others, respectively 6 and 9 mm. The breeding season of the species 

 thus extends over a considerable area. A young Cottus seorpius, § inch 

 long, likewise was captured in the same net in the middle of the month. 

 The notochord was slightly bent up posteriorly. 



Young gobies marked with ochreous pigment and ranging from 3 to 8 

 mm. were common in the bottom-net. 



July. 



During this month also the various nets were used in the estuary of 

 the Eden in connection with the food of the mussels and other points. 

 The increase of Diatoms, Rhizosolenise, spores of Alga?, and vegetable 

 debris of various kinds was marked. Moreover, the peculiar gelatinous 

 algoid occurred in profusion. It would seem indeed that this estuary 

 supplied the Bay with much of its microscopic plant-life. Compared 

 with 1884, the latter in the Bay was less abundant towards the surface. 

 Rhizosoleniai and other Algse abounded off St Abb's Head in July 1884 ; 

 and similar observations in the ' Garland,' south-east of the Isle of May 

 and near St Abb's in subsequent years, showed a like condition. 

 Pointed needles allied to those of Rhizosoleniaa were common in certain 

 deep-sea deposits, so that the distribution of this group is very general. 



The Infusoria were in vast profusion at the surface during warm days 

 in July, so as to form a thick coating to the tow-nets. Amongst the 

 most abundant forms were Ceratium tripos, C. furea, C. divertjens, 

 C. fusus, Tintinnus denticulatus, and AmpMclinium operculatum. The 

 species of Peridinium, again, were most plentiful in the bottom tow-nets 

 this season, though also appearing in the surface-nets. Masses are said 

 to occur in the intestines of sardines. 



Many of the same forms were found in open sea off St Abb's Head at 

 the end of the month. Moreover, Ceratium longicome occurred as a 



* These and many other young Pleuronectids, however, await the skilled investi* 

 gations of Dr Traquair, who intends to study them this summer at St Andrews. 



t 



