of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



39 



rub off readily. If the scales present a patchy appearance it indicates 

 that the fish are probably trawled or have been roughly handled. 



IX. The General Appearance. — In looking at a fish, the appearance it 

 presents often indicates whether it is a trawled or line fish. In the 

 former the body region generally shows a battered and limp appearance, 

 with often considerable extravasation of blood in the head region. 



From the above considerations, I venture to state that when — 



1. Rigor mortis has passed off, 



2. Reddish discoloration, fully developed as described, and as 



shown on the figure in Plate I., 



3. Smell becoming tainted, passing to putrid, 



4. Flesh strips off readily and cleanly from backbone, 



5. Abdominal walls becoming soft and pulpy, with commencing 



apple-jelly-like appearance and with commencing discolora- 

 tion and tainted odour, 



ft. Gills lost characteristic tint, becoming grey and slimy, 



7. Eyes grey and shrunken, 



such fish should unhesitatingly be condemned. 



19. EXPLANATION OF PLATE I. 



Diagram of dissection of Haddock, about three days after capture. 



A — Slight reddish discoloration due to diffusion of blood-pigment from small 



blood vessels on dorsal aspect of vertebral column. 

 B — Deeper reddish discoloration due to diffusion of blood-pigment from caudal 



blood vessels on ventral side of vertebral column. 

 C — Peritoneum. 



D — Peritoneum removed and abdominal walls breaking down, showing pale 

 apple-jelly colour — "Jelly Lugs." 



