162 
Part III. — Eighth Annual Report 
Table II. — The Maximum and Minimum Lengths (in inches) of 
Nearly Ripe Fish. 
Name of Fish. 
Largest. 
Smallest. 
Difference 
between 
Largest and 
Smallest. 
Average 
Size. 
rs umber 
nearly- 
Ripe. 
Number 
Examined. 
Plaice 
26^ 
12 
14 i 
19'5 
83 
■ 
2212 
Lemon sole 
Common dab, . 
18 
7i 
13*2 
64 
863 
ISi 
K 
8-6 
286 
2061 
Long rough dab, 
14 
h 
n 
8 2 
8 
8-3 
400 
1488 
Flounder, 
16J 
107 
66 
217 
Witch sole, 
19 
1H 
7h 
16-3 
41 
223 
Little sole, 
5 
3 
2 
3-8 
15 
38 
Turbot, . 
26 
18 
8 
20-6 
6 
68 
Brill, 
23£ 
20 
217 
2 
23 
Sail fluke, 
15 
10 
5 
12'4 
4 
16 
Haddock, 
23 
10 
13 
15-5 
67 
1375 
Whiting, . 
21 
8 
13 
13-1 
111 
1318 
Cod, 
44 
20 
24 
34-0 
53 
975 
Gurnard, . 
17 
8h 
Sh 
12'4 
225 
1299 
Cat-fish, . 
27 
24 
3 
25 3 
3 
59 
These Tables show that the range of length of mature individuals of the 
same kind of fish is very great, and also that the range of length of 
immature specimens of different species is very great. Thus Table I. 
shows that the smallest ripe turbot obtained was 23 inches, the smallest 
ripe plaice 13 inches, the smallest ripe little sole 3 J inches, and the 
smallest ripe dab 6-i inches. The proportions of ripe specimens obtained 
also varied considerably. ( Vide Report on the Spawning of Fishes, p. 257). 
The difference in size between the largest and smallest ripe specimens 
is very marked in some cases. For instance, the largest fully ripe plaice 
was 28 inches long, and the smallest only 13, or less than half the 
size. The smaller specimens were invariably males, the smallest ripe 
female being 20 inches in length. The average length of mature males 
was only 16 '7 inches, while that of mature females was no less than 
24 inches. The males of all the other species mentioned in the Tables, 
with the exception of cod and haddock, are smaller than the females. 
This subject is dealt with in my Report on the Proportional Numbers 
and Sizes of the Sexes among Marine Fishes {vide, p. 348). It will be 
observed from the Tables that the difference between minimum and maxi- 
mum sizes increases generally in proportion to the number obtained. I 
have little doubt that, when I have collected sufficient data, I shall be able 
to formulate a law by which, given the average size of a species (adult and 
immature), it may be possible to indicate the approximate size which 
marks off immature individuals from adult. 
In some cases in the above Tables, such as plaice, common dabs, long 
rough dabs, and gurnards, the figures may be accepted as indicating with 
some exactitude the demarcation between immature and possibly adult fish.* 
In some other cases the number of ripe individuals is too small to afford 
a basis for generalisation ; but by taking into consideration the sizes of 
those nearly mature (Table II.) a fairly accurate average may be obtained. 
Chiefly from these two Tables, but also from a consideration of all the 
evidence before me, I have drawn up Table III., which shows the lengths 
of the smallest ripe individuals of the species named. Thus fish under 
the sizes given will be here classed as immature fish. 
* I say 'possibly adult,' because in the same shoal, specimens having the roe or 
milt not fully developed may be found of a larger size than fully ripe individuals. 
