22 



From the experiment at Nairn Bay, in November 1913, 3 " spawning " males 

 were recaptured, 2 of tliem in the Dornoch Firth, at distances of 22 and 23 miles 

 to the north and east, and 1 off Lybster, Caithness, 46 miles in the same direction. 



(7) FAIR ISLE. 



The number of " spawning " plaice recaptured from the experiments made at 

 Fair Isle was 21, 16 males and 5 females. Of thes3, 18 were recaptured to the 

 south and west ; 4 to the east of the Orkneys, at 35 to 45 miles distant ; 3 in the 

 Moray Firth ; 1 off "WTritehills, Banir, at a distance of 109 miles, another 3 miles 

 south of Clyfh. Ness, at a distance of 93 miles, the third 6 miles off Berriedale Ness, 

 at a distance of 103 miles ; 4 on the north coast of Scotland, at distances of from 

 100 to 112 miles to the south and west ; 2 on the west coast, 1 at Scourie Bank, 

 Eddrachilles Bay, and the other near Eu Stoer, North Minch, at distances of 131 

 and 178 miles ; 2. 24 miles north-east of Kinnaird Head ; 1, 7 miles S.S.E. of 

 Buchanness, at a distance of 119 miles ; 1, 9 miles E.S.E of Buchanness, at a 

 distance of 113 miles ; and 1, 13 miles E.N.E. of Aberdeen, 126 miles to the south 

 and west. One was recaptured near Foula, 117 miles to the north ; 1, 9 miles 

 N. by W. from Ronasvoe, Shetland, 81 miles to the north and west ; and 1 at 

 Scalloway, 46 miles to the north and west. 



From what is stated above, the general northward movement of the " spawning ' 

 fish along the east coast is evident. Only 4 were recaptured to the south of the 

 Firth of Forth (56° N. Lat.), namely, 3 from the experiments at the station between 

 Ehe and Fidra, and 1 from the experiment? at 50 miles E. of the Isle of May. A 

 large number were taken south-east of Aberdeen, in the neighbourhood of Aberdeen 

 Bank, and in the Moray Firth, no fewer than 78, mostly in the Dornoch Firth or 

 neighlsourhood, ofE the Caithness coast, and in the vicinity of Banff, where 22 were 

 recaptured. The great majority of the Unes of migration are consistent with 

 the relation to the prevailing current, that is to say, in the opposite direction to 

 the movement of the water, the chief anomaly being a few fish which moved south 

 towards the coast of Aberdeen from the neighbourhood of Fair Isle. 



A special chart has been made showing, by a dot, the position where each 

 "spawning" fish was recaptured. From south to north, the n\ain localities are 

 as follows : — (1) to the south-east of the Bell Rock ; (2) at Aberdeen Bank ; (3) 

 Closer to the shore between Aberdeen and Buchanness ; (4) In the Moray Firth, 

 (a) off Banff, (6) the Dornoch Firth, and (c) the coast of Caithness. In connection 

 with this distribution of " spawning " fish, however, it must not be forgotten that 

 a very considerable amount of trawhng takes place at Aberdeen Bank, and also cod- 

 net and plaice-net fishing in the Moray Firth. The information is not, however, 

 sufficient to make close analysis useful. 



II. Fish Described as " Ripe." 



All the fish which were described as " ripe " on recapture were also tabulated 

 and charts made showing their movements and places of recapture. The number 

 so described was 203, viz. 154 males, 48 females, and 1 whose sex was not recorded. 



(1) FIRTH OP FORTH. 



Thirty fish, said to be " ripe," were recovered from the experiments made at 20 

 miles east of the Isle of May, 23 males and 7 females. Twenty-five of these were 

 recaptured to the north and east, 2 to the north and west, 1 to the south and west, 

 and 2 to the south and east. Three were got at 1|, 13, and 23 miles to the north 

 and east ; 7 were found near Aberdeen Bank, or on the coast of Aberdeen, at dis- 

 tances of from 36 to 67 miles ; 1 was taken near Buchanness at a distance of 74 

 miles, and another 40 miles north-east of Buchanness, at 109 miles distant ; 8 were 

 recaptured in the Moray Firth, 6 on the south shore, of which 3 were taken ofi 

 Banff, and 2 on the north coast, at 144 and 132 miles distant ; 1 was recovered 25 

 miles to the north-east of Kinnaird Head, at a distance of 106 miles, and another 15 

 miles north of Kinnnaird Head, at 106 miles distant ; 1, 15 miles from Auskerry, 

 east of the Orkneys, at a distance of 160 miles, and 1 on the north coast of Scotland, 



