61 



Forth (off St. Monans), on the 6th March ; they were marked between 3*25 and 

 4-15 p.m., and hbe rated at 6 p.m. on the same day, all being in good condition. 



The nnmber recaptured was 66, or 66 per cent., viz. 21 males, or 77-8 per cent., 

 and 45 females, or 64"3 per cent. 



Twenty of the males were of adult size when recaptured, the sizes ranging from 

 34 to 43"8 cm., and averaging 37"7 cm., as compared with a range of 29*5 to 38"5 cm., 

 and an average of 33'4 cm. on liberation ; the periods of freedom varied from 39 

 to 743 days, the mean being 343 days ; the distances migrated were from 4 to 195 

 miles, the mean being 69"9 miles, and the average rate of movement, 2*1 miles per 

 10 days. 



Of the females, 34 were of adult size, viz. from 38*3 to 54-1 cm., the mean being 

 43-4 cm., compared with a range of from 30 to 59-5 cm. on liberation (but the size 

 of the largest fish was not recorded on recapture) ; the periods of liberty were 

 from 12 to 1120 days, the average being 405 days ; the distances migrated varied 

 from 4J to 174 miles, and averaged 63-9 miles, and the mean rate of travel, per 10 

 days, was 1*7 miles. Eleven of the females were under adult size on recapture, 

 viz. from 30*1 to 37-8 cm., averaging 34-6 cm., while, on liberation, the raiige was 

 from 30 to 37-5 cm., averaging 33-2 cm. ; they were at hberty for from 2 to 748 

 days, the mean being 148 days ; the distances migrated were from 2| to 85 miles, 

 the average being 24-4 miles, and the mean rate of movement, per 10 days, 1*6 

 miles. 



The Extent and Direction of Migration. 



First Quarter. — Six of the fishes, 5 females and a male, were recaptured in March. 

 Four were taken in tlie Firth of Forth, all on the north coast, the male, after 7 days, 

 off Methil, a distance of 7 miles ; it measured 26-25-5 cm., and was " immature " ; 

 a female, of 30-30-1 cm., was taken, after 9 days, off Buckhaven, at a distance of 

 8| miles ; another, of 33-5-33-8 cm., after 8 days, off Pittenweem, a distance of 5 

 miles ; another, of 37-5-37-5 cm., after 2 days, off St. Monans ; a distance of 4| 

 miles. A female, of 37-36-7 cm., was taken north-east of the Isle of May, at a 

 distance of 18 miles, after 9 days, " immature." Another female, of 38-5-38-6 cm., 

 and described as " spent," was recaptured, after 12 days, by a steam-trawler, the 

 position being given as " outside Granton Harbour " ; as trawhng is prohibited in 

 the Firth of Forth, there is little doubt that this fish was caught outside the Isle of 

 May. 



In April, 6 fishes were recaptured, 5 females, and a male. All the females were 

 taken within the Firth of Forth. One, measuring 43-5 cm. when liberated, but of 

 unknown size when taken, was caught, after 48 days, off St. Monans, a distance of 

 4| miles ; the condition of the ovaries was not ascertained ; another female, of 

 33-5-34-3 cm., and "immature," was taken off Pittenweem, at a distance of 5 miles, 

 after 28 days ; a third, of 56 cm. when Uberated, was captured after 34 days, off 

 Buckhaven, at a distance of 5 miles, the size on recapture and the condition of the 

 ovaries not being recorded ; the fourth female, measuring 39-5-39-8 cm., and 

 " immature," was caught, after 28 days, off Pittenweem, at a distance of 5 miles ; 

 the fifth, of 35-35-7 cm., and " immature," was recovered 45 days later off Ehe, at a 

 distance of 2| miles ; the male, which measured 36-36-5 cm., and is described as 

 "immature," was taken, after 39 days, offshore, to the south-east of Aberdeen, at 

 a distance of 71 miles. 



Four fishes were recaptured in May, 2 females and 2 males. One of the males, 

 measuring 34-5-35-6 cm., and " immature," was taken, after 83 days, near Tod 

 Head, at a distance of 52 miles ; the other, measuring 35-34-7 cm., and described 

 as 4 spent," was got, after 62 days, north and east of the Isle of May, at a distance 

 of 16J miles. One of the females, measuring 38-40 cm., and said to be " spent," 

 was recaptured, after 68 days, to the east of the Isle of May, at a distance of 24 miles. 

 The other female, of 33-33.6 cm., and " immature," was caught, after 70 days, 

 near Kinghorn, 12 miles to the westward. 



Thus, in this quarter, 16 fishes, or 24-2 per cent., were recaptured, the position 

 of capture being ascertained for all but one, namely, the one referred to above as 

 being caught " outside Granton Harbour." Of the 16, 10 were taken within the 

 Firth of Forth. 



Second Quarter. — In June, 2 females and 1 male were taken, the emal, measuring 



