of the, Fishery Board for Scotland. 
twenty inches, some being over four feet. Considering the abundance of 
the adults, it is remarkable so few small frog-fishes are caught in the 
trawl-net. It is probable that this is due to a difference of habit between 
the adults and the young, the smaller individuals frequenting rocky in- 
shore ground, where young cod, coal-fish, &c, abound. When a little 
larger they will not be much attacked by predaceous fishes. 
Only one immature hake (Merluccius vulgaris) was obtained. It was 
four inches long, and was taken at the mouth of the Forth in May, in 
fourteen fathoms of water. It is not a common fish in the neighbourhood 
of the Firth of Forth. 
One specimen of the John dory (Zeus faber), three inches in length, 
was caught in the Firth of Forth in ten fathoms in September. 
Thirty-one specimens of the sand-eel (Ammodytes lanceolatus) were 
obtained. Ten were under four inches in length — mostly caught in about 
fifteen fathoms ; one was eleven inches long. 
Sixty-five specimens of the dragonet (Callionymus lyra) were captured. 
Forty-one were under six inches in length, nineteen under five inches, 
and two under four. A few of the smaller were obtained in shallow 
in-shore water ; the majority were taken in about fourteen fathoms at the 
mouth of the Forth in May. 
Of the Pogge (Agonus cataphr actus) 168 specimens were caught; of 
these 102 were under two inches. The smallest specimens were obtained 
both in deep and shallow water, in-shore and off-shore, in February, 
March, May, June, and July. Small specimens of the rocklings, brassie, 
hag-fish, pipe-fish, Lumpenus, &c, were also captured. 
In July, in the Moray Firth, in a depth of fifty-three fathoms twelve 
miles from shore, twenty-one hag-fishes (Myxine glutinosa) were obtained. 
Eight of these were eleven inches long, and nine ten inches. The two 
smallest were seven inches. 
Of more interest are the herrings and sprats. Altogether 5011 young 
herring were captured in the special net. The largest caught in the 
trawl was seven inches long (two in May) and the smallest two inches. 
In September, in AberladyBay, in water under four fathoms, 2294 young 
herring between two and three inches long were captured in a single haul. 
In May also, in shallow water near Portobello, 185 were caught in one haul. 
In March 180 and in April 778 were taken in single hauls near the 
same place. In March 1042 were taken in one haul near Oxcars, in 
water of about seven fathoms depth. Although the herring is a pelagic 
fish, and pelagic in its young stages, it appears to be a bottom-feeder 
at certain periods of its life. 
911 sprats were taken in the trawl, most of them about three inches 
long. Like the herring, they were chiefly found in shallow water in- 
shore, in March, April, May, June, and October. 
Comparison between the Territorial and Extra- 
territorial Waters. 
From what has been detailed above as to the distribution of immature 
fish, it is obvious that the territorial waters and the waters immediately 
adjacent form to a large extent nurseries for them. They contain the 
seed for future harvests. It is clear, however, that the in-shore grounds 
on the East Coast, at all events, do not act as nurseries to the young of 
all fish. The young of turbot, brill, ling, and, curiously enough, haddock 
appear to be practically absent from them. On the other hand, immature 
plaice and common dabs, whiting and cod abound. The case of plaice is 
interesting. We already know a great deal regarding the habits of 
m 
