1902-3.] Mr A. W. Brown on Young Scales of the Cod. 437 
Some Observations on the Young Scales of the Cod, 
Haddock and Whiting before Shedding. By Mr 
Alex. Wallace Brown, St Andrews. Communicated by 
Dr A. T. Masterman. 
(Read May 18, 1903.) 
During the winter of 1902-3, I conducted observations upon 
the scales and their condition, in several of the gadoid fishes. 
Investigation was commenced in October 1902; but it was not 
until the beginning of March 1903 that the first appearance of 
the young scale took place. In stained specimens, it can be 
recognised as a deeply staining “ nucleus,” lying beneath the old 
scale, just under its centre. Such an appearance was found in cod, 
haddock and whiting of all ages from one to three or four years ; 
and, in all, the young scale is clearly recognisable, underlying the 
old. As soon as these fishes have spawned, they appear to shed 
their scales, the epidermis first peeling off. An examination of a 
few large haddocks, 8 lbs. weight and over twenty-seven inches 
in length, showed that in January the ovary was black, shrunken, 
and not in spawning condition. I am inclined to think that 
these fish are past the age for spawning. I examined very 
carefully this class of haddock right on till April. In every 
case I found that the scales showed evidences of hard wear, and 
in some cases were frayed. In these fishes no trace of the 
replacing scales were found ; and the probable conclusion is that 
no further shedding of the scales takes place after the close of 
the reproductive period. 
It has been suggested that the annual rings of growth may be 
traced upon the gadoid scales ; but I find that upon the cod, 
haddock, whiting, green cod and pollack, of one to three years 
in age, scales may be obtained from different parts of the body 
showing 90, 60 or 30 rings, according to the part selected. 
