56 



which measured 33-36-6 cm., and is described as "immature," was got off Clyth 

 Ness, at a distance of 15-1 miles, after 380 days, the mean rate of travel being 4'06 

 miles per 10 days ; the female, of 40-5-47 cm., was captured, after 387 days, by a 

 foreign trawler, and landed at Ostend ; the condition of the ovaries, and the exact 

 locality where it was taken, were not recorded. 



A male was got in June 1913 ; it measured 31-34 cm., was described as " im- 

 mature," and was recaptured, after 730 days, off Banff, in the Moray Firth. In 

 Novemlaer, after 892 days, a male, measuring 33-39*8 cm., was taken off Aberdeen, 

 at a distance of 72 miles to the north and east ; it was " nearly lipe." In December, 

 a female was recaptured 18 miles away, near Bell Rock ; it measured 39-48*4 cm., 

 was " ripe," and had gone at a mean rate per 10 days of "2 mile. 



In March 1914, a male, of 30*5-42"9 cm., and " spawning," was recaptured near 

 the Bell Rock, a distance of 29 miles, after 1002 days, the mean rate of migration 

 being '3 mile. The last fish, from this experiment, to be taken was a female, 

 30'5-43'5 cm. ; it was got, after 1250 days, off Aberdeen, at a distance of 60 miles 

 from the station ; it was described as " fully half-ripe," and had moved at an 

 average rate of "5 mile per 10 days. 



Distances travelled — Under 10 miles. — Four of the marked plaice, or 15*4 per 

 cent., were found within a distance of 10 miles from the station, viz. 1 male, and 

 3 females (21-4 per cent.). They were all taken within the Firth of Forth, 2 off 

 Pittenweem, and 2 off St. Monans. 



10 to 20 wiles. — Four were recaptured at distances of from 15 to 18*5 miles, 

 the average being 17*4 miles, viz. 1 male and 3 females (2r4 per cent.). The male 

 was taken within the Firth, on the south shore, near Newhaven ; the females were 

 all got to the eastv/ards, off the Isle of May. Eight of the fish, or 30*8 per cent., 

 were thus recaptured within 20 miles of the station, 2 males, with an average dis- 

 tance of 10 miles, and 6 females, with an average distance of 11*4 miles. 



20 to 50 miles. — Four fish, or 15"4 per cent., were recovered at distances of from 

 25 to 50 miles, with an average of 33 miles, all to the north and east. A male, after 

 177 days, was found 26 miles off, near the Bell Rock, and another, after 1002 days, 

 in the same direction, a little farther to the east, at a distance of 29 miles. Of 2 

 females, 1 was found near the same position as the last, at a distance of 25 miles, 

 after 245 days, and the other, after 301 days, near Tod Head, at a distance of 50 

 miles. 



50 to 100 miles. — Ten of the fish, or 38-5 per cent., were got at distances of from 

 60 to 90 miles, viz. 5 males, with an average of 80 miles, and 5 females, with an 

 average of 74-5 miles. All were taken to the north and east. Three of the males 

 were found close together, off Buchanness, at distances of 85 and 88 miles ; the 

 other 2 males went a little farther south, being taken at distances of 67 and 72 miles. 

 One of the females was recaptured off Buchanness, in the same locahty as the males, 

 at a distance of 90 miles ; 3 were taken off the coast of Aberdeen, farther south, 

 at distances of 60, 63, and 78 miles, and the remaining female was caught far off- 

 shore, to the south-east of Aberdeen, at a distance of 80 miles. 



Over 100 miles. — Four fish, or 15*4 per cent., were got at distances of from 113 

 to 211 miles, all to the northwards, viz. 3 males and 1 female. The female was 

 taken north-east of Buchanness, in deepish water, at a distance of 113 miles. Two 

 of the males were taken in the Moray Firth, at distances of 134 and 154 miles ; 

 the other was recaptured off Strathie Point, on the north coast of Scotland, at a 

 distance of 211 miles. 



Of all the fish recaptured, 5, or 18-5 per cent., were got in the Firth of Forth, 

 3 females and 2 males, and 22, or 81-5 per cent., outside the Firth, 10 males and 12 

 females. Two were caught in the Moray Firth, and 2 farther to the north or north 

 and west. 



Maturity. 



Males. — Tlie condition of the reproductive organs was ascertained in all the 

 12 males and in 11 of tlie 15 females recaptured. One male, of 30-5-42-9 cm., was 

 found to be " spawning " ; it was taken in March 1914, after 1002 days, 29 miles 

 to the north and east. 



Three were " ripe," all taken to the north and east, in March 1912, 1, of 30-5- 

 36-1 cm., off the north coast of Scotland, at a distance of 211 miles ; 1, of 31 •5-37-4 



