58 



Part III. — Twenty-first Aimual Report 



The second class, or large codlings, vary to a much greater 

 extent. On the deep-water grounds the average was nearly always 

 much higher in May and June than in September and October, 

 being 19-4 for May, 19-8 for June, and 6*1 and 7-4 for the two latter 

 months. In October the highest average of all was Aberdeen Bay with 

 23*3. The percentage of large codling was always high in the deep 

 water, being 93'8 in May to 59*4 and 86-9 in June, 88*5 in Septem- 

 ber, and 78-4 in October. In Aberdeen Bay it was 20-0 in May, 10*6 

 in September, and 88*2 in October. In the Moray Firth it was 44*3 

 in May, 55*9 in June, 0*6 in September, and 85*8 in October. In the 

 latter months the proportion in the inshore waters was thus high. 



The variation in the abundance of the small unmarketable codling 

 was also very marked. In all cases the average was least in the deep 

 water hauls, ranging from O'O to 0*5 per hour's fishing, while in 

 Aberdeen Bay the average ranged from 0*4 to 7*2, and in the Moray 

 Firth from 0"6 to 6*1. The percentages also show a considerably 

 greater proportion of young codlings near the coast. Thus while in the 

 deep water the percentage to the older fishes was 1-5, 2*3, 3*0, 0*0, 

 and 1-9, it was in Aberdeen Bay 2-0, 2V4, 84*7 (in September), and 

 9-9, and in the Moray Firth 37-2, 12-7, 91-3, and 8-7. On the 

 Fisher Bank in June the percentage was 34*3. 



These averages and percentages indicate that the cod in its younger 

 stages — up to about two years of age — is not present in numbers at the 

 bottom in the deep water, and that it is much more abundant near the 

 coast. 



In considering the three classes into which the cod is divided by the 

 trawlers certain facts must be borne in mind. Those classed as cod and 

 marketable codlings represent the numbers on the ground at the time, 

 so far as can be determined by a trawl, that is to say none of them 

 escape through the meshes of the net. The averages therefore truly 

 indicate the numbers present, but there may be in some cases a slight 

 variation due to the selection, i.e. a largish fish may be classed some- 

 times with the codlings and sometimes with the cod. For the purpose 

 of determining the size-limits of the three classes I have tabulated 

 my notes of measurement in a considerable number of cases. The 

 lower limit of cod is usually about twenty-seven inches ; occasionally 

 one at twenty-six inches was included. The upper limit of 

 marketable codlings was usually twenty-five inches ; in a few instances 

 I find twenty-six inches, and even twenty-six and a half and twenty- 

 six and three-quarters. The division may, therefore, be placed at 

 twenty-seven inches, which corresponds also with the approximate size 

 at which the majority of cod become mature for the first time. The 

 lower limit of marketable codlings ranges in different lots from ten 

 and a half to twelve, and even twelve and a half and twelve and three- 

 quarter inches, and the highest limit of the unmarketable from ten and 

 a half to eleven and three-quarters and occasionally twelve inches. 

 Eleven and a half inches may be taken to represent the division as a 

 rule. The lower limit of the third class or unmarketable varied in 

 different cases. Setting aside some instances in which a few of about 

 six inches were caught, the majority of the smaller forms had a mini- 

 mum size ranging from seven and a quarter to eight and a half and 

 occasionally to nine inches. Considerable numbers of these smaller 

 codlings must escape through the meshes of the net ; the largest found 

 in the fine-meshed net which had thus passed out had a size ranging 

 from, six and a half, up to eight, and occasionally to eight and three- 

 quarter inches. The third class is thus imperfect, but may be taken as 

 fairly representing the codlings between eight and a half or nine inches. 



