494 REPORT ON TRAWLING AND OTHER INVESTIGATIONS 



2. SPAWNING GROUNDS. 



" It has been pointed out, under the section describing the migration 

 of the plaice, that the majority of the specimens of this species travel 

 some distance from the inshore waters in order to spawn. The largest 

 plaice spawn in 30 to 35 fathoms some 20 to 25 miles offshore, 

 whilst the medium - sized spawn in 25 to 30 fathoms along the 

 line from Start Point to Portland. Some, however, travel but a short 

 distance from the bays, and a few seem actually to spawn within 

 territorial waters. 



"During December, 1901, a haul in the deep water (20 fathoms) off 

 Dartmouth Fairway gave, amongst a number not yet ripe, two males 

 with the milt running freely, one spawning female, and one already 

 spawned. During January two similar males and two spawning 

 females were obtained in 15 to 20 fathoms water, whilst eight females 

 had already spawned. In February a score of spawned females was 

 obtained about the same place. 



" It is possible that the spawned specimens had migrated outward to 

 the 25-fathom line and returned, but the presence of the spawning 

 males and females ab depths less than 20 fathoms renders it probable 

 that all those obtained in Start Bay during January had spawned there. 

 The number was not great. Very few plaice, small or large, are obtained 

 in Start Bay during January. 



" The number of spawning and spawned plaice found in Torbay and 

 Teignmouth Bay was still smaller. The depth in these bays, it will be 

 remembered, is under 12 fathoms, where one would not expect to 

 meet spawning plaice. In Torbay, near Berry Head, one spawning 

 male was obtained in December, and two large females (22 and 23 

 inches) whicli had already spawned in January. During the latter 

 month, also, three large spawned females were got in Teignmouth Bay. 

 It has been remarked by Fulton that large gravid females occur within 

 territorial waters during the spawning season, and it is probable that 

 the specimens found in Torbay and Teignmouth Bay were of that 

 nature and had not migrated from the bays. 



" Of the remaining species of food-fishes which the trawl captured in 

 the bays, only two were found in the spawning condition. During 

 March and April spawning and spawned dabs were found all over the 

 area, within, but mostly without, the territorial waters, wliilst towards 

 the end of April two spawning brill (one male and one female) were 

 obtained in Teignmouth liay. No comment need be made on the dabs, 

 as tlieir ubiquitous nature and habits are well known. The occurrence 

 of spawning brill in less than 12 fathoms of water is, however, quite 



