of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
I pass now to give the results of the ( Garland's ; work as to the spawn- 
ing time, the records, which have been almost exclusively kept by 
Mr T. Scott, F.L.S., extending back to June 1888. From the fact that 
the 1 Garland ! is able to work, unless in exceptional weather, only near 
tho shore during the spawning time, these figures by themselves throw 
little positive light on thfi spawning time of some of the food fishes, such 
as cod, haddock, &c, but they are important in regard to fiat iish. The 
number of fish examined in each month, and the percentage of ripe 
fish to the total number examined in that month, are given in Table 111. 
The figures in the tables refer to the several spawning seasons which 
have occurred since the records were begun ; there are slight differ- 
ences in each year, apparently depending on the temperature. 
In Plate VI. I have represented in graphic form the time and duration 
of spawning of the more important food fishes, the curves being founded 
chiefly upon the figures in the preceding Tables. It is interesting to 
compare the results with those obtained by Professor M 'In tosh regarding 
the distribution of the ova (p. 300). 
2. The Spawning Places, 
Renewed study of the records confirms the conclusion previously 
reached — that the majority of the food fishes do not spawn within the 
territorial waters on the East Coast. I have tabulated all the fish 
examined at the various stations, with the following results : — Of nearly 
900 cod examined during the spawning period, none of those caught 
within the Firth of Forth, St Andrews Pay, or other part of the terri- 
torial waters were mature; the few mature specimens were all obtained 
beyond the three-mile limit. The same is true of the haddock, of which 
over a thousand were examined ; and also of the plaice, of which about a 
thousand were examined. Individuals approaching maturity, or spent, 
were obtained — especially plaice — but none were quite ripe. The mature 
fish appear to pass out from the territorial waters at the spawning time ; but 
it is noteworthy that at this period some individuals of larger size than 
the smallest mature specimens remain within the Firth of Forth in an 
immature condition. It is somewhat different with the whiting. While 
the great majority spawn outside the territorial waters, or near the 
margin, a few quite ripe specimens, both male and female, are found 
wiihin the limit, and even pretty far up the Firth of Forth (stations i. 
and ii.) The gurnard, on the other hand, spawns to a consideiable extent 
within the Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay ; ripe specimens have 
been caught at all the stations, most abundantly, however, at the outer 
ones, and just beyond the three-mile limit. This fish appears to approach 
the inshore grounds at the spawning time, and to leave them late in 
autumn. Lemon soles also spawn to a small extent within the mouth of 
the Firth of Forth, but mostly beyond it. All the ripe specimens of the 
witch sole (Pleuronectes cynoglossus) were obtained outside the territorial 
zone. Spawning long rough dabs and common dabs are got at nearly all 
the stations, but are most numerous outside. The same may be said of 
the flounder, with this qualification— that spawning fish are rather more 
abundant within the territorial waters than without. The evidence in 
regard to the turbot, brill, and black sole is not sufficient from the small 
number of ripe fish obtained. One ripe female brill was obtained at tho 
mouth of the Firth of Forth at station vi. on May 3, 1889 ; but this is 
the only example wiihin the territorial waters. No ripe turbot has been 
