of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



253 



which was caught by the steam trawler "Chinkiang," 25 miles S.-E. by 

 E. from Aberdeen in March last, and which was received alive at the 

 Marine Laboratory. It was 14| inches in length and was everywhere 

 destitute of pigment, except on the upper surface of the head and gill- 

 cover and at the root of the ventrals, where a small patch existed. The 

 ocular side was as white as the blind side. The fish was put into a tank 

 along with other flat-fishes and was exceedingly conspicuous as it lay on 

 the bottom. It lived for over two months and was found dead on 19th 

 May. 



In the Report for last year * I described another albino plaice, so 

 that they are not extremely rare. 



The specimen above described was interesting also as giving an 

 example of the tenacity of life in this species. It was caught by the 

 "Chinkiang" about two in the morning, put with the other plaice and 

 brought to market ; it was being packed in a box in the usual way about 

 ten o'clock, when it was discovered by Mr. Robb, who sent it to the 

 laboratory in fresh water as preferable to the impure water of the 

 harbour. 



The Spawning of the Cod in Autumn in the North Sea. 



Under this title, I contributed last year to the Publications de 

 Girconstance (No. 8, 9) of the International Council for the Exploration 

 of the Sea, a paper in which I described the occurrence of shoals of 

 spawning cod in autumn, on a ground known as the " Reef," lying 

 about 180-190 miles E. by N., or E. by f-N., from Aberdeen, that is to 

 say, close to the deep water of the Norwegian Channel, and about 

 seventy or eighty miles from the coast of Norway. A few additional 

 observations on the subject may be here mentioned. 



Last year the fishing on this ground was begun about the middle of 

 July by one of the steam liners (the "Vigilant"), and later by others, 

 and it was continued till late in the year. Mr. Forbes, the skipper of 

 this vessel, informed me that the grounds on which they were fishing 

 were situated 195 and 196 miles E. J-N. from Aberdeen in 55 and 56 

 fathoms of water. He states that there is another patch of rough 

 ground about 50 miles to the northwards where they also get spawning 

 cod in autumn. In August I noticed the ripe cod in the fish-yards and 

 traced them to the " Reef " grounds, and I got Mr. Forbes to keep a 

 tally of the cod taken on two of his voyages. The first occasion was 

 30th August and the position was 165 miles E. f-N., the depth being 

 56 fathoms. The number of cod caught was 18 score, or 360 fish, and 

 the number from which the milt or eggs were observed to be running 

 as they were brought on board was 37 males and 28 females, or nearly 

 19 per cent. On this occasion, I was informed, the vessel was not quite 

 on the proper grounds ; they were a little too far north and, owing to 

 fog, they were unable to see the sun to determine their position. When 

 on the right ground, they say that practically all the cod taken are 

 either spawning or full, or spent. The next occasion was the 14th 

 September, the position being nearly the same, viz., 196 miles E. f-N., 

 and the depth 55 fathoms. Forty-one score of cod, or 820 fish, were 

 taken, and the number observed to be " running " was 83 females and 

 67 males, or again nearly 19 per cent. One or two ling were also found 

 to be spawning, but as a rule they were beginning to "fill up." 



It is of interest to note that the largest average catches of cod 

 obtained by the Aberdeen steam-liners are taken from the area in 



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