of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



255 



23rd April, 2J fathoms. Long rough dab, 20 ; plaice, 100 ; haddock, 

 20; cod, 4000; whiting, 50; poor-cod, 30; sprat, 10; flounder, 100 

 (32). 



Tarbert to Avidh Island. 



24th April, mid-water net, 6J fathoms. Long rough dab, 155 ; plaice, 

 190 ; haddock, 11 ; cod, 3 ; flounder, 1 ; motetla, 1 (40). 



24th April, mid-water net, 1 fathom. Long rough dab, 13 ; plaice, 

 25; haddock, 28; cod, 600; whiting, 150; poor-cod, 250; turbot, 40; 

 flounder, 1500; dab, 500; motella, 680; dragonet, 30 (42). 



24th April, mid-water net, 2J fathoms. Long rough dab, 6 ; plaice, 

 11 ; gurnard, 1 ; haddock, 12 ; cod, 146 ; whiting, 50 ; poor-cod, 222 ; 

 turbot, 16; flounder, 177; dab, 138; motella, 57; dragonet, 13 (66). 



24th April, mid-water net, 2J fathoms. 6 gadoids, 8 to 20 mm. (92). 



Off Kenmore, Loch Fyne, 27th April, bottom. Cottus, 14 mm 

 (93). 



Loch Shirra, Head of Loch Fyne. 



5th May, 3 fathoms. Long rough dab, 1 ; cod, 50 ; whiting, 4 ; poor- 

 cod, 3 ; flounder, 21 ; motella, 2 ; "dragonet, 12 (22). 



5th May, 3 fathoms. Gadoid, 4 mm. ; clupeoid, 11 mm. ; 10 gobies, 

 3 to 4 mm. (94). 



Head of Loch Fyne, 



5th May, 3 fathoms. Cottus, 6 mm. (95). 

 5th May, bottom. 8 gobies, 3*5 to 5 mm. 



MORAY FIRTH. 



In this region ova were collected between 24th and 26th August 1896, 

 from the Stations I., IV., VI., VII., VIII., IX., and X., and on Sept. 

 22nd, from Station III. As will be seen, very few eggs were obtained, 

 because of the lateness of the season. By this time the spawning period 

 is over for the common food-fishes ; in fact, one might say for all, the eggs 

 obtained being considered to have come from late fish, whose spawning 

 time has been delayed by untoward circumstances. This conclusion 

 receives confirmation from a review of the lists of ova obtained from the 

 Moray Firth for the last three years. In 1893 ova were collected there 

 during the month of May; in 1894, during July; in 1895, during the 

 latter part of July and the first part of August; in 1896, this present 

 year treated of, during the latter part of August. An interesting com- 

 parison can therefore be made, and a very superficial glance suffices to 

 show that both in the number of forms represented, and the number of 

 ova obtained, there is a diminution from large quantities in May to the 

 relatively trifling number in the latter part of August. Again, the occur- 

 rence of one or two of the forms might seem to be very exceptional, 

 because they occur in one year and not in another. The small numbers 

 cannot be said to arise because few trawlings were made. In 1894 there 

 were thirty-seven trawlings ; in 1895, twenty-eight; and in 1896, thirty- 

 four. 



During May 1893 the long rough dab, plaice, gurnard, brill, haddock, 

 bib, whiting, witch, lemon-dab, green-cod, poor-cod, cod, ling, turbot, 

 sprat, flounder, dab, and rockling, were represented in the lists. For the 

 most part these are food-fishes. The eggs of the gurnard were the most 

 abundant, the dab coming next, while those of the turbot, sprat, and 



