102 



EATB OP GROWTH OF SOME SEA FISHES 



1st year . 



2nd „ . 

 3rd ,, . 

 Maximura length 



2 to 6 inclies. 

 5 to 8 „ 

 7 to 10 „ 

 14 „ 



Distribution. — The above records show that although the young 

 dabs under one year old, and 6 inches in length, are common every- 

 where in shallow water, penetrating even to the estuaries such as 

 the Cattewater, where the greatest depths is only 3 fathoms, 

 they are also taken out near the Eddystone at a depth of about 30 

 fathoms. In the latter region I took two specimens "6 and "7 inches 

 long in July. These were taken in a shrinap trawl lined with 

 mosquito-netting, having a mesh of about ^ inch. The professional 

 trawlers do not, however, catch specimens of the first year, because 

 their mesh is too large. These conclusions as to the distribution 

 are in complete agreement with those of Dr. Fulton. 



Pleuronectes microcephalus, the Lemon Sole, or Merry Sole. 



The above data are all I have hitherto been able to collect con- 

 cerning this species. The lemon sole spawns in May and June off 

 the Firth of Forth, and in April and May off Plymouth. It is 

 manifestly impossible that the young should reach a length of over 

 6 inches between May and November, since the adult lemon sole is 

 but little larger than the adult floundei', and its growth not likely to 

 be more rapid. Therefore the specimens taken in the Firth of Forth 

 in November, and at Plymouth in August, are probably in their 

 second year. As to the age of those taken in April, they might 

 have reached the size of 6 inches in a year, but could scarcely have 

 reached 9*3 inches in that time. If the lemon sole can become 

 mature in one year some of these may have been one year old, and 

 the larger ones two years. 



It is noticeable that lemon soles only 6-4 inches long are 

 sexually mature at Plymouth, while the smallest observed by 

 Dr. Fulton to be ripe were 8^ inches long. 



