244 



Part III. — Eleventh Annual Report 



of temperature, or the yolk bursts from the sac and glides away as a 

 transparent oily mass. 



Some, hatched on the 13th June, lived till the 21st (Plate X. fig. 5), 

 and they differed from those figured by Professor Prince in the absence of 

 the crescents of lemon-yellow pigment on the dorsal marginal fin. They 

 are very active little fishes, with silvery eyes and bright yellow pigment. 

 They progress in certain cases chiefly by the vibratory action of the 

 pectorals, scarcely a trace of lateral or other movement being visible. 

 Black chromatophores are now present along the body, the yellow forming 

 a conspicuous dorsal and ventral series. About the posterior third of the 

 body groups of yelluw spots occur in both dorsal and ventral marginal 

 fins, and in some a few yellow chromatophores pass further forward, close 

 to the margin of the muscle-plates. While the eyes are silvery by reflected 

 light, they are bluish-green by transmitted light. One example presented 

 a large hydropic swelling over the head, such as Professor Prince figures 

 in Plate XVI. fig. 3 of the ' Researches.' 



It is interesting, therefore, if the above interpretation be correct, to 

 find considerable variation in the size of the eggs of this commun species. 

 Moreover, it is clear that the development of the pigment — for instance, 

 that in the dorsal marginal fins — is retarded in certain instances. 



5. Further Remarks on the Eggs of the Halibut. 



The ripe females of this species seem to have been met with chiefly 

 towards the end of April and beginning of May, as the remarks in the 

 Tenth Annual Repejrt (p. 285) indicate. This year Mr R. Duthie, Assistant 

 Fishery Officer, Lerwick, whose zeal I have formerly commended, procured, 

 from Bergen Bank, on the 5th May a quantity of ripe eggs of this form. 

 He observes in a note forwarded with the eggs, — ' The halibut roe was 

 ' in fine condition, about half a gallon (apparently) of perfectly ripe ova 

 ' having been obtained out of a fish about 22 lbs. in weight. The crew 

 ' who brought it ashore are not fishing regularly, and did not know its 

 ' value. When they saw ripe eggs running from the fish they opened the 

 * halibut and removed the roe. I did not get it till the following day, 

 ' and of course all attempts at fertilisation failed.' 



The examples forwarded in the fresh as well as in the preserved con- 

 dition showed that in the recent specimens the capsule (zona radiata) is 

 of considerable toughness. All bear lifting with the forceps freely, and it 

 is evident that those examined last year by Mr Holt and myself had become 

 considerably softened by maceration. Captain Dannevig tells me that the 

 Norwegian examples are also tolerably tough, and bear handling freely. 



The diameter of the fresh as well as of the preserved eggs agreed with 

 that published last year, viz., from 3 "0861 to 3'8 mm. Most of those in 

 the solution were ruptured at one point. 



The size of the ripe fish is interesting, for a halibut of 22 lbs. is a com- 

 paratively small fish, the present example being about 4 feet long.* 



I have included this form under the pelagic eggs, both from its 

 appearance and structure ; but since it has never been obtained in a tow- 

 net in the neighbouring seas, it is possible it may be less buoyant than the 

 smaller eggs. 



8. On an Unknown Egg, measuring P3335 mm , and a Larva with 



much Yellow Pigment. 

 Early in June 1892, a comparatively large pelagic egg, measuring I -3335 

 mm., — that is to say, about the size of the egg of the haddock, — was pro- 



* As in other forms the size of the ripe males is considerably smaller, some 

 weighing only fourteen pounds or even less. Moreover, the males seem to arrive at 

 maturity somewhat earlier in the season than the females. 



