of the, Fishery Board for Scotland. 
299 
the fin-rays — both dorsal and anal — occurs. This irregularity is due to the 
occurrence in the ordinary series of a few irregular fin-rays at a different level 
from the rest (lower when the fish is placed on a flat surface, right side up).. 
On the left side (PI. XVII. fig. 5), the lateral line posteriorly is curved 
gently to the dorsal side, and terminates, after a short course, about half an 
inch in front of a soniewhat elevated border stretching from the interspinous 
region of the dorsal to the interspinous region of the anal. This elevated 
border is fringed with a continuous series of rays. The first of the 
irregular series ventrally pass from the anal interspinous boues at a forward 
angle, and the transverse rays follow in order, as observed in the sketch. 
The rays joining the dorsal are crowded, and form almost a double series 
at the prominent fold of the region. The interspinous elements show a 
tendency — both at the dorsal and the ventral edge — to follow the abnormal 
transverse or vertical fin, but they seem to be deficient in the central 
region, though slight folds are visible. 
The lateral line commences anew from the centre of the transverse or 
vertical fold formerly alluded to, and goes straight backward as usual to 
the caudal. Behind the irregular region a small portion of the dorsal and 
anal fins, of a normal structure, existed on each side of the terminal 
caudal trunk, and at both edges the fin proceeded somewhat further 
backward than usual. 
The left side is of the normal colour, with the exception of a circular 
patch of black about \ of an inch in diameter, which is situated below 
the lateral line, and almost covered by the membrane and rays of the 
abnormal vertical fin. Above the lateral line, again, is another minute 
black speck. 
14. Further Remarks on Injuries to Food-Fishes on the Lines. 
1. Guttle- Fishes. — In the Fourth Annual Report of the Board (1885), 
reference was made * to the injuries inflicted by the squids on the haddock, 
whiting, and bib after they are hooked. During a period extending 
over a fortnight, towards the end of November (1891), cuttle-fishes were 
unusually abundant off the mouth of the Forth, between the Bell Rock 
and the Island of May, and over an area ten miles east and west. Daily, 
during this period, the fishes (codling, haddock, and whiting) on the 
hooks were more or less injured, each boat having about a box of fishes 
that had been attacked, and which were only of use for the crab-pots. 
The fishermen.do not remember seeing them in such numbers, and so bold 
in their habits. They often held on to the fishes till they were at the 
surface, and then swam off actively, so that a ring-net was necessary for 
their capture. The most abundant form was Loliyo Forbesii, though 
Eledone was also present. As formerly indicated, the wounds were gener- 
ally situated behind the head, large gaps extending occasionally three or 
four inches backward, and in some the brain was removed. In those most 
injured the gaping dorsal wound opened into the abdominal cavity— from 
which the liver was almost invariably removed, while the stomach and 
intestine were untouched — a feature so familiar in the attacks of other 
predaceous forms, both marine and aerial. The massive muscles along the 
dorso-lateral region are gouged very neatly out by rasping, but shreds of 
skin hung here and there to the margins of the wounds. 
2. Starfishes. — In the same Report of the Board a note was also made 
on the injuries caused by star-fishes, as follows: — 4 Moreover, if the lines 
• have been long down, as for instance for a night or two during a storm, 
* the fishes are so injured (the fishermen say "sucked") by the cross- 
* Page 204. 
