242 



Part III. — Eleventh Annual Report 



The teeth differed from those of the ordinary examples of the poor cod 

 and the bib, being nearly uniform — that is, the larger teeth of the outer 

 row, usually so characteristic, were not distinctly differentiated. They 

 diverged still further from the teeth of the whiting. There were 37 gill- 

 rakers in the outer gill, 24 in the next, 23 in the third, and 18 in the 

 inner — all thus diverging from the average condition in the poor cod. 



On the whole, the differences warrant notice, especially as these became 

 even more marked after preservation in spirit. Instead of the pale 

 brownish and somewhat loose wrinkled skin of the dorsum and lateral 

 regions of an ordinary preparation, this presented slightly darker pigment 

 on a smoother surface (smaller scales). The region below the lateral line 

 was also much smoother, and, moreover, the firm surface had a sheen as 

 silvery as in the whiting. 



3. On the Eggs of the Coal-Fish, Green Cod, or 'Saithe' 

 ( Gadvs virem). 



Last year * a few remarks were made on some unfertilised eggs of this 

 species forwarded from Shetland, but unfortunately they were in an 

 indifferent condition. Continued exertions were made by I)r Fulton and 

 the staff this season, so that further progress has been made. Thus, on tbe 

 24th January the laboratory attendant proceeded to sea in a long-line 

 fishing boat from Anstruther, and had an opportunity of* examining 4 

 specimens — 3 males and 1 female. All the males were ripe, the sperms 

 being sent out as a white jet for a few seconds as they lay on deck. The 

 most advanced female was brought to shore — length, 3 feet 6 inches ; 

 weight, between 25 and 30 lbs. The ovaries were much enlarged, but by 

 no means ripe, the average size of the largest ova being from -6096 mm. 

 to *7620 mm. 



A little later the same man joined the 'Faith,' a steam-trawler, which 

 proceeded about 200 miles from Aberdeen and about 90 miles S. or 8. F. 

 of Shetland. Though in the three hauls about 190 boxes of fishes, chiefly 

 haddock and cod, were obtained, only 1 ripe male green cod was trawled. 

 On the 16th March, however, a rips female was secured in Aberdeen fish- 

 market, and the ovaries forwarded to St Andrews. They were charac- 

 terised by the great thickness of the ovarian wall, so that at first sight 

 they resembled those of the wolf-fish — more especially as they were also 

 connate. In section the wall seemed to have a well-marked circular coat, then 

 a thick layer of longitudinal fibres, followed by a somewhat] mixed inner 

 series, chiefly circular, but also containing numerous longitudinal fibres. 



The ripe female fish, as in tbe cod, pollack, and some others, has a 

 prominent belly — a' feature specially noted by Mr Holt in this species. 



A considerable quantity of ripe eggs were present in this specimen, 

 though unfortunately their condition was unsatisfactory. Their diameter, 

 1*2573 mm. to L2954 mm., would seem to indicate that they had been 

 dead for some days, and more or less distended. 



A more successful effort was, however, soon made by Mr R. Duthie, 

 Assistant Fishery Officer at Lerwick, whose perseverance in such work 

 deserves special commendation. On the 31st March he fertilised a series 

 of ova at 4 p.m. in Shetland, and transmitted them to St Andrews. At 

 6 p.m. on the 3rd April all seemed to be dead, but a careful survey of the 

 vessels revealed some living eggs on the bottom. These measured 

 L0287 mm. in diameter, whereas others from the same fish, imperfectly 

 preserved in weak picric and spirit, had a diameter of 1T430 mm. The 

 general appearance of the egg resembled that of the cod, and the micro- 

 pyle agreed with that of the haddock figured in the ' Researches.' The 

 blastopore was still open (Plate IX. fig. 1), and the optic vesicles formed. 

 The perivitelline space varied in size. 



* Tenth Annual Report, Part III. p. 286. 



