64 



the Firth of Forth. One of the males (No. 803) was recaptured by the " Gold- 

 seeker " at Station VI., off St. Monans, on the 5th December 1912, and again hber- 

 ated on the following day, at the Station 20 miles east of the Isle of May. 



10 to 20 miles. — Nine fish, or 14-1 per cent., migrated distances of from 12 to 19 

 miles, namely, 3 males (15 per cent.), with an average of 17*1 miles, and 6 females 

 (13'6 per cent.), with an average of 16-5 miles. 



Thus, 20 fish, or 31*2 per cent., were recovered at distances under 20 miles. 

 Five males, or 25 per cent., with a mean of 12-5 miles, and 15 females, or 34 per cent., 

 with an average of 9-6 miles. Twelve of them were got within the Firth of Forth. 



20 to 50 miles. — Twelve fish, or 18*7 per cent., were taken at distances of from 23 

 to 45 miles, namely, 3 males (15 per cent.), with an average of 27*3 miles, and 9 

 females (20'4 per cent.), wth an average of 29*7 miles. All the males and 6 of the 

 females were recaptured to the north and east, and 3 of the females to the east and 

 partly to the south. 



50 to 100 miles. — Twenty-three fishes, or 36 per cent., went journeys of from 51 

 to 99 miles, namely, 9 males (45 per cent.), with an average of 69 miles, and 14 females 

 (31*8 per cent.), with an average distance of 77-3 miles. Eight of the males and all 

 the females were recaptured to the north and east ; 1 of the males was taken to the 

 south and east, at a distance of 56 miles. 



Over 100 miles. — Ten of the plaice, or 15"6 per cent., were recaptured at distances 

 of from 101 to 195 miles, viz. 4 males (20 per cent.), with an average of 168"6 

 miles, and 6 females (13-6 per cent.), with an average of 147 miles. All these fish 

 were taken to the northwards, 5 of the females \vithin the Moray Firth, and 1 off- 

 shore, south-east from Buchanness, 2 of the males to the east of Noss, in the Moray 

 Firth, and 2 off the Orbieys, 



Maturity. 



Males. — The condition of the testes was ascertained in 17 of the 21 males 

 recaptured. Four were " spawning," all recaptured to the north and east, 2 in 

 February 1913, after 352 and 357 days, at Aberdeen Bank, at distances of 62 and 72 

 miles ; another, of 36-5-39'3 cm., is described as taken in March 1913, after 385 

 days, in 50 fathoms, 20 miles E.S.E. of .Start Point, in the Orkneys, at a distance of 

 195 miles ; the fourth was caught in March 1914, after 743 days, to the south-east 

 of Aberdeen, at a distance of 58 miles. 



One male, of 31*5-39'9 cm., was " nearly ripe " ; it was caught in December 



1913, after 659 days, to the south of the Bell Rock, east of the Isle of May, at a 

 distance of 18 miles. 



Two males were described as " spent " ; 1, of 35-34*7 cm., was taken in May 



1912, after 62 days, 16 miles to the north and east ; the other, measuring 38*5-43-8 

 cm., was caught in May 1913, after 433 days, 35 miles to the north and east. 



Among the males of adult size on recapture, whose testes were " immature," 

 1 was recaptured in the spawning season ; it measured 36-36"5 cm., and was taken 

 to the south-east of Aberdeen Bank, in April 1912, after 39 days, at a distance of 71 

 miles. 



Females. — Of the 45 females recaptured, the condition of the reproductive 

 organs was ascertained in 38. Three were " spawning," 1 of 36-42'3 cm., caught 

 in February 1913, after 357 days, at Aberdeen Bank, a distance of 72 miles ; the 

 other 2 weie caught in the Moray Firth, one of 41-44-2 cm., in April 1913, after 392 

 days, off Tarbet Ness, at a distance of 174 miles, and the other, of 39-45*4 cm., in 

 March 1914, after 728 days, off Whitehills, Banff, at a distance of 137 miles. 



One female was " mature " ; it measured 39*5-43 cm., and was taken in June 



1914, to the east and a Uttle south of the Isle of May, at a distance of 45 miles. 

 Nine females were described as "spent " ; 1, of 38*5-38*6 cm., was taken in 



March 1912, after 12 days, probably outside the Isle of May ; another, of 38-40 cm., 

 was caught in May, after 68 days, 24 miles east and partly south of the Isle of May ; 

 and a third, of 37*5-48*7 cm., was taken in March 1914, after 751 days, to the north 

 and east of the Isle of May, at a distance of 33 miles ; all the others, except 1, were 

 found to the northwards, off the coast of Aberdeen, viz. 1, of 41*5-44*3 cm., in 

 January 1913, at a distance of 91 miles ; another, of 40*5-46*2 cm., in February 



1913, at a distance of 72 miles ; another, of 39*5-47*7 cm., also in February 1913, 

 at a distance of 73 miles ; another, of 33-39*7 cm., in May 1913, at a distance of 90 



