of the Fisliery Board for Scotland, 
15 
behalf of his Government, carried on an elaborate inquiry into 
the floating ova of larval fishes in the Bay of Naples, has described 
a young fish, which he supposed to be a brill, but which does not 
agree in several respects with the larva hatched at St Andrews. 
Another point now decided is the identity of a peculiar pelagic 
egg, which occurs in considerable numbers at the fishing-grounds 
off the Forth and elsewhere— the egg which Professor Mlntosh has 
described in previous publications as ' Pleuronectid B.' It has 
now been definitely determined that this egg belongs to the long 
rough dab ; and the peculiarity of the ovum of this fish has special 
interest in connection with its low degree of fecundity. Professor 
M'Infcosh also describes the development of one of the most valu- 
able of the flat-fishes found off the Scotch coasts, namely, the lemon 
sole, fertilised ova of which were obtained by the assistance of 
several of the fishery officers. Another investigation concerned the 
reproduction of the sand-eel, which forms a valuable bait-fish, and 
constitutes, in many places, an important food for the herring. The 
eggs and larval forms of this fish have hitherto, for the most part, 
escaped observation. During the present year ripe specimens were 
obtained, and Professor M'Intosh now describes fully the characters 
of the ova for the first time, which belong to the demersal group. 
Descriptions are also given of a new but unidentified pelagic 
egg and two larval fishes, and of the young stages of the gunnel, 
the weever, &c. Professor M'Intosh also gives long lists of the 
various pelagic fish eggs and larval fishes obtained by the ' Gar- 
' land ' in the course of the year, while engaged in the trawling 
experiments. 
The Development of the Angler- Fish. — Professor E. E. Prince, 
F.L.S., has, for the first time in this country, made a special study 
of the development of this fish, the greatest enemy of the food- 
fishes, the results of which are described in the present Report. 
The spawn of the angler floats at the surface of the sea in the form 
of a long ribbon, and is rarely met with. During last year, how- 
ever, several specimens were obtained, and Professor Prince now 
gives an account of its development and of the curious forms of the 
young. The same gentleman also describes some features in the 
egg and larva of the skulpin not hitherto described. 
In recent years a gradual but considerable falling off in these 
fisheries has been apparent, as the following figures show : — 
6. The Shore Fisheries. 
1883, 
1884, 
1885, 
1886, 
. £82,945 
. 80,939 
. 89,193 
. 73,287 
1887, 
1888, 
1889, 
1890, 
£67,315 
71,728 
63,201 
68,613 
£326,364 
£270,857 
