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Part III. — Thirteenth Annual Report 



These are all factors tending to eradicate all trace of the group-curves, 

 and that traces of them still remain speaks largely in favour of the pro- 

 bability that, with a properly arranged series of observations, valuable 

 results might be obtained, and a mean average growth-rate might be 

 decided. 



At Diagram III. is set out the growth-curve of the first-year plaice. 

 As shown in this paper, the curve after the first year is taken from the 

 lowest group-curve of the St Andrew's Bay plaice (Diagram II.). It is 

 probably too rapid, and is purely dependent upon unsatisfactory data. 



If the question of the rate of growth of food-fishes is to be definitely 

 settled, one must look to some such method as the above, which relies 

 solely upon facts with regard to the fish under natural conditions. 



