of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



205 



given. It is a saleable fish in its second year, and some imagine it is 

 also capable of reproduction. 



The whiting thus would seem to pass its early post-larval and its 

 young stages chiefly in the deeper offshore waters, — coming inshore in 

 immense swarms in September. It approaches, therefore, the haddock 

 rather than the cod in such habits. 



2. On a very young stage of a form resembling Qaranx tracliurus, 

 L., the Scad or Horse-Mackerel. 



The occurrence of a specimen apparently pertaining to this species on 

 the 25th October 1893, in the centre of the Forth, opposite Kirkcaldy, 

 gives an opportunity of referring to the growth of this form. 



Day observes that it spawns in June, July, and August in our country ; 

 but in spring in the Mediterranean, according to Kisso. In September 

 the bays in Cornwall swarm with the young about 1 inch long. In 

 October, numbers scarcely exceeding 2 inches are captured, while others 

 are 7 or 8 inches (Couch). The stomachs of fishes contain examples of 

 about an inch from the end of December to the middle of February. 

 Couch found ripe scad in the middle of July ; and since he met with the 

 young, 3 or 4 inches in length, in August and September, he was in 

 doubt as to whether they did not spawn twice a year. Those of 7 or 8 

 inches, however, were probably a year old. 



The specimen captured in the Forth measures about 8 mm., but the tip 

 of the tail, like the fins, has been injured. At this stage the head is large, 

 the mandible bent upward somewhat more than in the adult, and the eyes 

 are of considerable size. In lateral view (Plate VI. fig. 9), the body 

 is short and thick, the precaudal region being deep, and thus differing from 

 the attenuate condition in the adult. The first dorsal fin arises a little 

 behind a vertical line from the base of the pectoral, and has permanent 

 rays ; the second also has permanent rays, and they stop short of the caudal. 

 Immediately behind the prominent vent is a minute process representing 

 apparently the first anal fin. The second anal stretches from the vent to 

 the tail ; a considerable interval, however, existing between its termination 

 and the caudal rays, and thus it differs from the condition at a later 

 stage. The pre-caudal region, however, undergoes modification as growth 

 proceeds. Permanent rays are likewise present. The caudal rays are well 

 developed (though injured), and all trace of the larval tail has 

 disappeared. 



The pectorals spring from a projecting fleshy base, and are broad fan- 

 shaped organs. They appear to have the same relation to the first dorsal 

 as in the adult. Their tips, unfortunately, are incomplete. The ventral 

 fins are already considerably developed, forming a pair of stiff fins pro- 

 jecting from a firm basis, which is nearly in a line with the base of the 

 pectorals, as in the later stages. The rays are injured in the specimen, the 

 longest being short of the vent. The latter, if the tail had been complete, 

 would occupy the centre of the body. 



Recently Mr Holt* has described (in May) both the unripe f and 

 the ripe eggs which are pelagic, from T03 to 1*09 mm. in diameter, and 

 have an oil-globule. Moreover, the yolk was completely segmented. 

 Mr Cunningham again found the young 2*1 inches in August, and in 

 September some were only about half the length. { 



Long ago, A. W. Malm was familiar with the fry as frequenting 



* Jour. Mar. Brit. Assoc., 1893-94, p. 190. 

 t Sci. Trans. Boy. Dub. Soc, v. ser. 3, p. 9. 

 X find., 1891-92, p. 113. 



