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On the approach of cold weather the fish migrate towards 
the sea. The majority of the sexually mature forms in 
time make their way out to sea tospawn. The movements 
of the immature flounders are greatly influenced by the 
conditions of the weather. When there is little or no frost 
they remain in the shallows of the estuaries. When frost 
of any severity sets in they quickly disappear into the 
deeper channels. It mild winters it is probable that even 
some of the sexually mature fish remain in the deeper parts 
of the channels and spawn there in the spring It is nota 
rare thing to find nearly ripe fish and occasionally partly 
spent ones in Barrow Channel in February, when the 
weather has been favourable. 
The food found in the stomachs of flounders varies con- 
siderably. Sometimes it is mollusca such as young 
mussels; at other times we find only crustacea, Mysis and 
Corophium, and occasionally marine worms. 
The incubation of the eggs of the Flounder has formed 
the principal part of our hatching work hitherto, for two 
reasons: (1) Mature Fish are easily collected in Barrow 
Channel during the latter part of the year; and (2) little 
difficulty is experienced in transferring them to our tanks 
and in keeping them in captivity. 
In future, however, we propose to devote more attention 
to the incubation of Plaice eggs, and have already secured 
a supply of mature fish for next (1902) season. 
Mature Plaice are not plentiful in the Lancashire waters, 
and after a week’s search, by the steamer, in the middle of 
November, only five were captured. Luce Bay, in the 
South of Scotland, was then suggested. This area was 
well known in former days for its large Plaice, and was 
fished with success by Fleetwood Sailing Trawlers, before 
