of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



199 



margin is evident. The barbel is small in contrast with the 

 cod. The mandible is underhung, as in the adult. The anterior 

 nostril is surrounded by dark pigment, while the posterior is pale. 

 There is no need to describe minutely the various points of difference be- 

 tween this species on the one hand and the whiting and the cod on the 

 other, but a few remarks may be made on certain evident modifications 

 occurring during the growth of the three forms at this stage. Thus, 

 whereas the pale ventrals of the whiting fell short of the vent in the 

 former stages, they now extend beyond it, the second ray with its sensitive 

 tip, so carefully described in various fishes by Mr H. C. Williamson, 

 being proportionally longer than in the haddock. On the other hand, the 

 second ray of the somewhat short ventrals of the cod far exceed both, 

 such a provision, in all probability, being of great service in its haunts 

 inshore amongst the tangle-forests and tidal runlets at low-water. The 

 large mouth of the cod, its long barbel, and its characteristic head, are 

 noteworthy, as also are the prominent teeth of the whiting. 



At 61 mm. the silvery region of the abdomen behind the pectoral fins 

 presents a beautifully embossed or regularly facetted aspect from the 

 development of the scales, which here and along the abdominal region are 

 most apparent, though actually extending to the base of the tail. The 

 silvery surface, perhaps, aids in making them more prominent. The scales 

 are now marked by a somewhat regular series of reticulations concen- 

 trically arranged. Moreover, they now touch and overlap each other. 

 The black pigment on the fins is the same, a little still being visible 

 in the ventral, the tips of which distinctly fall short of the vent. The 

 latter shows papillae round the margin less prominently than at the earlier 

 stages. Young Caligi have fixed themselves near the angle of the 

 mouth. The head and sides are minutely dotted all over with black 

 pigment. The pectorals are proportionally broader than in the adult. 



Up to this stage not a single young haddock has ever been captured by 

 the various nets so constantly in use during in-shore observations. It is 

 a deep-water fish, of whose existence fishermen, as a rule, are not cognisant, 

 unless when casually dropped on deck from the mouth of a larger form 

 captured by the hook or by the trawl. 



At 80 mm. (about 3 \ inches) the blackish mark behind the 

 shoulder is very evident, — both in life and when preserved. It is 

 due, as formerly, to a dense aggregation of minute black chromatophores, 

 which thus, from the beginning, differ from these in any other part. 

 The cupreous sheen of the little fish is well marked, and the sprinkling of 

 black pigment over the body is less distinct than in the previous stages. 

 The black pigment on the pectorals, ventrals, and first anal is also 

 characteristic, and is equally seen on both sides. The tip of the second 

 ray of the ventrals is proportionally more elongate than in the previous 

 stage — in connection, perhaps, with a change of habit — either towards 

 the bottom or towards the shore. This sensitive ray is fully as long as 

 in a whiting of the same size ; but whereas in the latter it extends con- 

 siderably beyond the vent, it falls considerably short of it in the haddock. 

 The cod of the same length has a much longer second ray than either. 



At this stage, also, they seldom come under the cognisance of any 

 fisherman. 



Towards the end of the same month, viz., on the 30th of July, speci- 

 mens of 4 inches occasionally take a hook, or are entangled in debris 

 in a trawl. At this stage the ventral is proportionally shorter (though 

 the second ray is still long), — a longer interval occurring between its tip 

 and the vent. 



In xiugust the haddock of the season range from 3 J to 6 inches, — all 



