of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



269 



Gurnards, ranging in size from 53, 70-96, were captured in June. The 

 smallest is, at least, ten months old, but is not likely to be any older. 

 The largest, 91 and 96, are probably about one year old. A specimen, 

 57 mm. long, was caught on 29th November 1889. This is, doubtless, 

 the young of that year, and may be supposed to be five or six months old. 

 This would make the month when spawning probably took place May or 

 June. The gurnard, measuring 103 mm., captured in May, must be 

 about one year old. The two examples taken in June, which were 115 

 and 118*8 mm. long, respectively, should not be considered less than 

 thirteen months. The average size of all the preserved specimens (except 

 one 162 mm. long), which were caught in June, is 84 mm. The 

 gurnard, 162 mm. long, is almost double that size, and is too large to be 

 considered only one year old. The specimens captured in July 1884, 

 measuring 152 and 185 mm. respectively, must be at least one year and 

 eleven months old. The examples obtained in May 1884, which measured 

 160 and 162 mm. respectively, are at least one year and nine months old, 

 if it is supposed that they were spawned in August, but may be two years 

 old. One gurnard 162 mm. long was caught in June. This fish must be 

 at least one year and ten months, but may be as old as two years, or even 

 more. The size of the gurnard at the age of one year and eleven months 

 may be fairly considered about 152 mm. 160 mm. (6 - 4 inches) would 

 then be approximately the size reached in two years. The increase in 

 length during the second year may therefore be taken at about 70 mm. 

 (about 3 inches). The specimen 150 mm. long captured in April 1884 is 

 at least one year and nine months if it was spawned at the end of the 

 spawning season, but it may be one year and eleven months old if 

 spawning be supposed to have taken place in May. On 12th May 1893 

 a specimen 231 mm. (9 '2 inches) long was obtained, which is probably at 

 least two years and nine months, but which may not unreasonably be 

 reckoned two years and eleven months. Another gurnard got on that 

 date (12th May 1893) measured 264 mm., and is likely to be about four 

 years old. 



The Ling. 

 (Molva vulgaris.) 



The s.s. 'Garland' found the eggs of the ling during the months of 

 April, May, and June. The eggs preserved at the Marine Laboratory, St 

 Andrews, were obtained on 26th April 1886, 8th May 1886, 21st May 

 1885. 4 The eggs were hatched in nine days, after fertilisation at the 

 4 Marine Laboratory ' (M'Intosh and Prince, 1 Development of T^leostean 

 1 Food-Fishes,' &c). 



The ling, 76'5 mm. long, captured in December 1884, was found in 

 sand pool, and the specimen, 76 mm., obtained in March 1888, was go^ 

 in a rock-pool at St Andrews. The former specimen, 76 - 5 mm. long, i* 

 the young of that year, and may be reckoned seven months old or 

 perhaps a month more, spawning having probably taken place in May. 

 The latter specimen, that captured in March, must be at least nine 

 months old, since spawning is not known to go on after June. From 

 its size, this ling is not likely to be any older. Two examples, measuring 

 respectively 151 and 167 mm., were trawled by the s.s. 'Garland' in the 

 Moray Firth in the beginning of May. These must be under fourteen 

 months old, as spawning begins in March. A ling obtained in September 

 1885 was 187*5 mm. long. This fish must be one year and three months 

 old at least, since spawning ceases in June. The two specimens captured 

 s 



