of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



305 



yolk, moreover, shows a vesicular border, and pigment of a dull whitish 

 or faintly yellowish hue rapidly develops over its surface. When the 

 embryo is partly formed the groups of oil-globules are found along its 

 ventral surface, as in a species of Solea (?) described by Kaffaele. They 

 have been hatched, and the connecting links with the following stage 

 observed. 



A larval form (Plate III. fig. 4), 5 mm. in length, apparently refer- 

 able to this species, was procured in the mid-water net on the 22d 

 August. The body had already considerably increased in depth, 

 while the notochord was slightly bent up posteriorly, and the hypural 

 elements developing. The most conspicuous feature in coloration was 

 the presence of deep ochre-pigment in the dorsal marginal fin. The 

 first spot occurred at the occiput, and behind were other five ramose 

 pigment-areas — somewhat conical in shape, the base being at the margin 

 of the muscle-plates of the body. Two less distinctly marked spots 

 existed in the ventral marginal fin, each being somewhat behind a 

 vertical line from the corresponding dorsal areas. A series of small stellate 

 chromatophores ran along the margin of the body, dorsally and ventrally. 

 Various chromatophores of the same hue extended over the abdominal 

 surface of the head and cheeks, and many minute blackish specks 

 occurred on the same regions as well as on the sides of the body. Along 

 the margin of the body, between the large and small chromatophores 

 were specks of similar pigment. The eyes are relatively small and of a 

 bluish silvery aspect.* 



Sprat. — The pelagic ova and larvae of the sprat are frequent in the 

 bottom-nets, in May and June. 



L'arval Clupeoids abound in the Bay from March to the end of April, the 

 youngest varying from 8-10 mm. in length. They also occurred in April, 

 T 5 g inch long, and on the 10th May, finch. From this period till the 13th 

 September none were procured in the Bay, though on the 31st August 

 one measuring 13 mm. was obtained 15 miles south-east of the Isle of 

 May. They were abundant in September, their sizes ranging from 8 to 

 13*5 mm.f The double spawning season of the herring is as well marked 

 in regard to the larval fishes as the masses of eggs. 



Many sprats and young herrings from If inch to 2 inches are captured 

 in January, February, March, and April, and they also occur at other 

 times. 



Grey Gurnard. — The pelagic ova of this species {Trigla gurnardus) 

 appeared in the mid- water-net thisryear on the 30th April, \ and they 

 occurred at all stages till the 6th July. The maximum period may be 

 placed in June, when many were procured (on the 13th). In the majority 

 of instances they were obtained by the mid-water and bottom-nets, indeed 

 they only appeared in the surface-net on the 2nd July. This is not a point 

 of much moment, however, as such is in all probability due to the conditions 

 of the sea as regards currents and temperature. 



The larval gurnard is characterised by its chrome-yellow pigment. 



Cod. — An egg measuring "051 of an inch in diameter made its first 

 appearance on the 6th April in the surface-net, and occasionally occurred 

 till the 4th May. It was most abundant on the 30th April. The larval 

 cod is easily recognised by its four somewhat regular black specks or 



* The development of the sole up to this stage is described in the Researches by 

 Mr Prince and the Author, Trans. R.S.E. 



t The larval sprat, according to Hensen, is distinguished in its early stage by a loop 

 or bend of the intestine not present in the herring. 



% Mr T. Scott states he procured gurnards' eggs in January 1889 in the Moray 

 Firth. 



