15 



(3) FAIR ISLE. 



Eight experiments were made in the neighbourhood of Fair Isle. The number 

 of plaice marked and liberated was 940, of which 461, or 49 per cent., were recap- 

 tured. The fish were set free at five different localities, as detailed lat6r on when 

 dealing with the experiments (p. 217). The depths of water in these cases were very 

 considerable, ranging from about 60 to 74 fathoms, that is to say, water much deeper 

 than the plaice normally inhabits. As was to be expected in such circumstances, 

 the movement of the fish was from the deeper to the shallower water near the coast, 

 and the great majority were recaptured to the east of the Orkneys, or farther south, 

 in the Moray Firth. Comparatively few were found to the north, but some were 

 taken even to the north of Shetland, and a fair number at the Httle island of Foula, 

 to the north and west. In the following table, the number of fish which have gone 

 in the various directions, north-and-east, north-and-west, etc., have been tabulated 

 according to the first method formerly described. It will be seen that, of 435 of the 

 marked plaice which were recaptured, about which particulars exist, 283, or 65*1 

 per cent., moved to the south and west, the mean direction being S. 56° W., the 

 aggregate mileage, 21,126, and the average distance, 75 miles ; only 27, or 6*2 per 

 cent., were taken to the south and east, the mean direction being S. 32° E., the 

 aggregate mileage, 2666, and the mean distance , 99 miles ; to the north and west, 

 the number recaptured was 100, or 23 per cent., the mean direction being N. 39° W., 

 the aggregate mileage, 3593, and the average distance, 36 miles; only 19, or 11'6 

 per cent., were taken to the north and east, the mean direction being N. 26° E., 

 the total mileage, 900, and the average distance, 44 miles. Thus, 383 of the fish 

 were found to the westward of the station. 



I Table. 



