38 



In January 1911, 4 fishes were got, 2 females, 1 male, and. 1 of undistinguished 

 sex. One of the females went easterly for a distance of 39 miles in 63 days, the 

 second, made a long journey to the northwards, being recaptured in Ham Sound, 

 Orkney Isles, a distance of 165 miles in only 39 days, thus moving at the rate of 

 42'3 miles per 10 days. Both the male and the fish of undetermined sex had 

 entered the Moray Firth, and were taken off Whitehills, at a distance of 136 miles 

 in periods of, respectively, 45 and 55 days, the mean rates of movement being 

 30-2 and 24*7 miles per 10 days. 



Six fish were got in the third month after liberation, February, 4 of them being 

 females, and 2 males. Four were taken to the north-east, off the Aberdeenshire 

 coast, namely, 3 females and 1 male. They travelled, respectively, 71, 72, 89, and 

 92 miles in 74, 86, 70, and 87 days. The remaining male and female were found 

 to the east of the station, at distances of 18*5 and 23"5 miles, after 91 and 77 days. 



First Quarter. — Thus, during the first 3 months after liberation, 13 of the marked 

 plaice, or 19'4 per cent, of the total number recaptured, were taken, 3 males, 9 

 females, and 1 of unknown sex. All had gone in an easterly or north-easterly 

 direction, for distances of from 18 to 165 miles. Of the 3 males recovered in this 

 quarter, 1 was found 23 miles to the eastward ; it measured 38'5 cm., and was 

 " ripe." 



Second Quarter. — Thirteen were recaptured in March, 9 males, 3 females, and 



1 of unknown sex. Most of the males migrated long distances, but 2 were 

 taken within the Firth of Forth, 1, of 34-5-36-1 cm., and "spawning" ("partly 

 spent ") near Pittenweem, at a distance of 5 miles, after 120 days ; the other, of 

 31-31'8 cm., and " immature " farther to the westwards, off Anstruther, at a 

 distance of 7 miles, after 123 days. All the other males migrated rapidly to the 

 northwards ; 1, of 33-5-35 cm., and " spent," was taken at Aberdeen Bank, at a 

 distance of 72 miles, after 126 days ; another, of 35'5-35'7 cm., and described as 

 " immature," was caught near Buchanness, at a distance of 85 miles, after 108 days ; 



2 were recaptured in the Moray Firth, 1 of 37-5-37-6 cm., to the Jiorth and east of 

 Tarbet Ness, at a distance of 162 miles, after 104 days, and the other, which was 

 taken by a foreign trawler, and landed at Ostend, at an unspecified locality ; it 

 measured 37-37 cm., and the condition of the testes was not recorded. Another, 

 measuring 37-36-9 cm., and " spawning " (" partly spent ") was recaptured after 

 106 days off "Whiten Head, on the north coast of Scotland, at a distance of 225 

 miles. Two others were taken together at Loch Inchard, Koss-shire, on the west 

 coast of Scotland, at a distance of 256 miles, after only 114 days, and both were 

 " spawning." These fish travelled with great rapidity, the 2 taken at Loch Inchard 

 having moved at a mean rate of 22-4 miles per 10 days, the 1 captured off Whiten 

 Head, at the rate of 21-2 miles, and the 1 caught off Tarbet Ness, at 15*6 miles. 

 One of the three females was recaptured in the Firth of Forth, at a distance of 

 8 miles to the westward, near Inchkeith, after 105 days ; it measured 30-5-31 cm. 

 and. was " immature " ; the second female, which measured 54-53-6 cm., and was 

 " ripe," was taken after 112 days 29 miles to the north and east ; the third female, 

 the condition of whose ovaries was not recorded, measured " 32-31 cm.," and was 

 taken by a German trawler 52 miles north-east of Rattray Point (Lat. 58° 20' N. ; 

 Long. 1° E.) at a distance of 147 miles, after 121 days. The fish, whose sex was 

 not ascertained, measured 39-39 cm., and was recaptured in the Moray Firth, 

 after 99 days, by a foreign trawler, and landed at Ostend. 



In April, a male, of 34-35 cm., and " immature " was captured 12 miles to the 

 westward, near Inchkeith, after 139 days. 



One male and 2 females were taken in May, all to the north-east, the male, 

 measuring 33-5-33'8 cm., and " immature," after 161 days, at a distance of 44 miles. 

 One of the females, which measured 38-5-41-8 cm., was taken after 173 days at 

 a distance of 38 miles. The other female, which measured 39-41 cm., and was 

 " spent," was recaptured, after 174 days, at a distance of 35 miles. 



In the second quarter, then, 17 fish, or 22-4 per cent., were taken, viz., 11 males, 

 5 females, and 1 of undetermined sex. Fourteen (82-3 per cent.) went north and 

 east, 1 (6*7 per cent.) north and west, and 2 (13-3 per cent.) south and west. Par- 

 ticulars as to the position of the recapture of 1 taken in the Moray Firth were not 

 given. Of those moving north and east, 9 were males, 4 were fenaales, and 1 was 

 of unknown sex. 



