of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
Station IX. — Surface, 1 Gth March 1892. A very large collection of 
ova; 5500 eggs of haddock and allies; 1542 eggs of plaice, early, but 
indistinct ; 1600 eggs of long-rough dab, chiefly in early stages; 50 eggs 
of cod ; 286 eggs of whiting, early stages ; 57 eggs of dab and flounder. 
8 to 12 Miles East of Island of May. — Surface, 5th April 1892 
12 noon to 2 p.m. A very large and important collection, the largest of 
the series. Unfortunately the preservation was defective. Nearly three- 
fourths of the eggs in bulk consisted of the eggs of the haddock (roughly 
estimated at 10 or 11,000), and probably those approaching them in size 
and appearance, such as those of the bib. The embryos in those eggs 
of the haddock that could be distinguished were from J to J round 
the yolk. The next series were the eggs of the long-rough dab which 
may be roughly estimated at 5 or 600 ; in a few which could bo made 
out the embryos had the tail just free from the yolk. The eggs of 
the plaice were about 250 in number, and in 1 the embryo was half 
round the yolk. There were fully 500 eggs of cod and whiting. A 
considerable number of the eggs of the dab, sprat, and rockling were also 
included in the collection, but only a very few of the gurnard. 
A Few Miles East of the Island of May. — New bottom-net.* Ova 
'probably captured while the net was being hauled up or let down ;' 5th 
April 1892. Imperfectly preserved. About 696 eggs of haddock and 
others, including cod ; a few eggs of whiting ; 24 eggs of rockling ; 26 
eggs of plaice ; and 80 eggs of long-rough dab, embryos apparently in 
early stages, though one or two had the tail free. 
Cross Section I., North Half. — Tow-net about 1 fathom under the 
surface. A large collection. The bulk of the ova consisted of those of 
the haddock, the embryos being from J to f round the yolk to almost 
ready to hatch ; next came the long-rough dab, embryos mostly in the 
earlier stages, but some were ready to hatch; then eggs of cod, plaice, 
sprat, whiting, dab, and rockling followed in smaller numbers. 
Cross-Section I., South Half. — Tow-net, 1 fathom beneath surface, 
6th April 1892. The most numerous eggs were those of the haddock, 
the embryos being about J round the yolk, others ready to hatch ; then 
long-rough dab, embryos at various stages, half round the yolk or with 
tail free ; plaice, embryos J round the yolk, others almost ready to hatch ; 
and eggs of cod, bib, whiting, and rockling. 
Cross-Section I. — Tow-net at 8 to 10 fathoms, 6th April 1892. Eight 
sand-eels, 8 -3 to 17 mm. ; 7 herrings, 9*5 to 10 mm. ; 2 sprats (V), 7 and 
7*5 mm. ; 2 Montagu's suckers, 5 and 6 mm. ; 1 Coitus, 6 mm. 
Cross-Section II. — Surface, 8th April 1892. A small collection of 
ova, consisting of a few eggs of haddock, plaice (some ready to hatch), 
long-rough dab, dab, sprat, and rockling. 
Cross-Section II. — Tow-net, 6 to 10 fathoms under the surface, 8th 
April 1892. A considerable collection of ova. About 540 eggs of had- 
dock ; 593 eggs approaching these, and probably mostly haddock; 198 
chiefly cod; plaice, 152 ; long-rough dab, 146 ; whiting, 12 ; besides a few 
eggs of bib and gurnard, and a considerable number of sprat and rockling. 
The contrast between this and the foregoing collection is noteworthy. 
Cross-Section H (?)— Tow-net at 10 fathoms, 8th April 1892. Eight 
sand-eels, 7 to 13 mm. ; 1 clupeoid, 8 mm. ; 1 post-larval Cottus, 6 "5 mm. ; 
4 post-larval Montagu's suckers, 5*5 mm. 
Between Fidra and Elie Ness. — Surface, 8th April 1892. Consider- 
able living collection sent to St Andrews. The most numerous were the 
eggs of the haddock at various stages — from the formation of the ger- 
minal cavity, or the blastoderm half over the yolk, to embryos with black 
* Termed 1 M'lntosh ' net on the labels. 
