^ 



45 



Three were taken in June, 1 male and 2 females, all " immature." The male 

 which measured 34"5-36'5 cm., had migrated to the Moray Firth, and was taken 

 off Noss Head, near Wick, at a distance of 169 miles, after 121 days, the mean 

 rate of movement being 13*9 miles per 10 days. One of the females, measuring 

 37"5-4r2 cm., was also taken to the south-east of Noss Head, at a distance of 

 154 miles, after 130 days, the mean rate of movement being ir3 miles, per 10 days. 

 The third female, of 39"5-40"9 cm., was caught off Aberdeen, at a distance of 

 72 miles, after 118 days, the mean rate of travel being 6*1 miles per 10 days. 



Four were recaptured in July, 1 male and 3 females ; they were all " immature." 

 One, a female of 36"5-36-5 cm., and therefore under the adult size, was taken in 

 the Firth of Forth, at Station VI., where it was originally caught, a distance of 

 ■41 miles, after 155 days ; another female, measuring 37-40'5 cm., was taken, 

 after 166 days, off Montrose, to the north and east, a distance of 37| miles ; the 

 third female, measuring 40-43*9 cm., was caught, after 172 days, 43J miles to the 

 north-east ; the male, of 34"5-36-2 cm., was got off Buchanness, 85| miles distant, 

 after 155 days. 



In the second quarter, then, the total number of marked plaice recaptured was 

 8, or 14'5 per cent., of which 7, or 87*5 per cent., were taken to the north and 

 east, the average distance being 81 miles, and the mean rate of travel 5'9 miles 

 per 10 days ; one of these fish was caught within the Firth of Forth. Another, 

 also caught in the Firth of Forth, had moved 7J miles to the north and west. 



Third Quarter. — In August 1911, 2 fish were recaptured, a male of 34-36 cm., 

 oft* the Isle of May, 19 miles to the north and east, after 188 days, and a female 

 measuring 36-40*1 cm., 26 miles distant in the same direction. 



None was taken in September, but 2 were got in October, 1 of 37-40*2 cm., 

 22J miles to the south and east, off St. Abb's Head, after 240 days, and the other 

 of 37-38 cm., to the north-east, off Aberdeen, at a distance of 57 miles. The latter 

 is described as " nearly ripe," and the former as " half-ripe." 



In this quarter, therefore, only 4 fish, or 7*3 per cent., were recaptured. 



Fourth Quarter. — Two males were taken in November, both to the north and 

 east ; 1, of 39-43*8 cm., was caught after 294 days near Aberdeen, at a distance 

 of 70 miles ; the other, of 30-31*7 cm., was taken, after 269 days, near the Bell 

 Rock, at a distance of 28 miles. 



In December, a male and a female were recaptured ; the male measuring 

 31 cm. on hberation, but of unknown size on recovery, was caught off the mouth 

 of the Forth, to the south and east, at a distance of 17 miles ; the female, of 34-43*7 

 cm., was taken, after 296 days, to the south and east, off the coast of Northumber- 

 land, at a distance of 85| miles. 



None was taken in January 1912. 



Thus, in this quarter, only 4 fishes were recaptured, or 7*3 per cent., 2 to the 

 orth and east, and 2 to the south and east. 



Within 12 months of liberation, the total number of the marked plaice recap- 

 tured was 30, or 54*5 per cent.. Twenty (66*6 per cent.) had migrated to the 

 north and east, and 5 (16.6 per cent.) to the north and west, and to the south and 

 east respectively. Of these, 10 were taken within the Firth of Forth, 5 to the 

 north and east, and 5 to the north and west. 



Of the remaining fish recaptured in this experiment, 19 were taken in 1912, 

 4 in 1913, and 2 in 1914. 



Two were got in February 1912, 1 within the Firth of Forth, off Largo, at a 

 distance of 5 miles, after 383 days, measuring 29-33*3 cm., and " immature " ; 

 the other {.-aci migrated 72 miles to the north and east, and was caught off AlcTdeen, 

 after 376 days ; it measured 34*5-38*2 cm., and was " about ripe." 



S X were caught in March 1912, 5 males and 1 female, and all to the nortli and 

 east. One of the males had gone only a short distance of 4 miles in 391 days, and 

 was taken off Pittenwecm, in the Firth of Forth ; it measured 29-35*8 cm., and the 

 testes were " immature." Three males were taken in the Moray Firth, 1, measur- 

 ing 35-40*5 cm., and " ripe," off Kinnaird Head, at a distance of 126 miles, after 

 391 days ; the second, of 32*5-37 cm., in the same region, at a distance of 127 miles, 

 after 387 days, the condition of the testes not being ascertained ; the third, 

 measuring 32*5-37 cm., was taken off Brora, at a distance of 174 miles, after 400 

 days, and it was " ripe." The remaining male was caught off Collieston, Aberdeen- 



