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Part III. — Tenth Annual Report 
so that they would seem to be somewhat less than those of the cod, 
though they may really be about the same size, since these unfertilised 
ova, are generally a little less than the floating fertilised—forme TliQ 
capsule {zona radiata) has at least the usual 
specimen was slightly wrinkled, a feature, howt 
immaturity. The micropyle resembles that in th 
6. On the Eggs of the Pollack ^uk unmfi); ~ 
Accurate information concerning the spawning of the pollack has 
hitherto been scanty, and, unfortunately, on the present occasion only the 
preserved ova have been procured. Mr Holt who last year obtained two 
ripe specimens of each sex in April, and a ripe female in May, off the west 
coast of Ireland — was of opinion that the pelagic ova did 'not differ much 
' in size from those of the whiting and poorcod, from which they are not 
' otherwise distinguishable in the early stages.' t 
Parnell, in his Fishes of the Forth, states that it spawns in February, 
after which it remains out of condition till May. Buckland, on the 
authority of Mr Dunn, observes that it spawns in winter, and that the 
young are seen in April an inch long, and quite black. Couch thinks it 
spawns about the end of the year, and the young, of small size, are seen 
in harbours and on the borders of shallow rocks, moving about with a 
slow motion, and readily taking a bait. Day gives the early part of the 
year as the spawning period, and mentions that on the 28th May 1881 he 
received some specimens, from T 7 Q-ths to an inch long, captured at the 
surface. ISTo scales, or even ventral fins, are visible until the fish had 
obtained -|ths of an inch in length. Brook gives a wide range, on the 
evidence of the Fishery officers, beginning with December at the northern 
stations (Wick), and ending with April and May at the southern 
(Berwick). Mobius and Heincke are uncertain on the subject, but say it 
probably spawns towards the end of winter. 
In all likelihood the pollack covers the usual area in regard to spawn- 
ing, commencing perhaps in January and continuing in some cases till 
May, the latter being the period (7th May) on which the ova were pro- 
cured by Mr R. Duthie from an example captured 5 miles off Bressay, 
Shetland. They were placed in picric solution. The average diameter 
of the best examples was between '9906 and 1*0287 mm., a diameter 
very similar to that of the cod, removed from the fish and placed in 
spirit, and then in the same solution of picric acid and spirit ; only the 
number of ova of the pollack which grouped themselves round the 
lowest figure (*9906 mm.), was greater than in the case of the cod. 
7. On the Eggs of the Torsk or Tusk. 
Couch (iii. 97) says the torsk comes (from deep water) near the coast 
at the time of spawning, which is in January and February. Parnell, again, 
states that it spawns in April and May amongst the sea-weeds along the 
coast. Day, like Parnell, seems to have copied this remark without query. 
Brook, in the Scottish Fishery Board Report (1866), gives, on the authority 
of the Fishery officers, March at Wick, May and June at Peterhead, and 
the same two months at Lerwick. Dr Fulton, wdio had the opportunity 
of examining the eggs of two very fine specimens of 34 inches, and weigh- 
ing respectively 15 lbs. 5 J oz. and 15 lbs., calculated that the partially 
developed ova in the former were about 2,283,979 in number, whereas in 
the latter, which he thinks had discharged part of them, the ovaries con- 
tained 790,064. In the latter example, 40 or 50 in 3612 ova, which were 
counted, were large clear eggs, having a diameter of 1*4 to 1*32 mm. 
* Researches, pi. i. figs. 12 and 13. 
t Report of Council, Royal Dublin Society, 1892, p. 252. 
