n 



The plaice were tiawled by the " Goldseekev " in Kirkcaldy Bay, Firth of 

 Forth, on the 8th May, and were marked, and placed in tanks of running water 

 between 3.10 and 6 p.m. They were hberated on the next day, at 8.30 a.m., none 

 of them having died while in the tanks. 



The number recaptured was 56, or 56 per cent., viz. 30 males, or 73'2 per cent., 

 and 26 females, or 45" 6 per cent. 



Twenty-six of the males were of adult size on recapture, viz. from 33-45 cm., 

 the average being 37*5 cm., as compared with a range of from 28-44 cm., and an 

 average of 33" 5 cm., on Uberation ; they were free for from 131 to 1054 days, aver- 

 aging 413 days ; they migrated distances of from 4| to 184 miles, the mean being 

 50" 1 miles, and the average rate of movement, per 10 days, was 1*2 miles. 



Four of the males were under the adult size, the average being 32' 1 cm., as against 

 28" 5 cm. on hberation ; the average period of liberty was 234 days, and the mean 

 distance migrated 23*2 miles, with an average rate, per 10 days, of 1 mile. 



Of the females, 17 w^ere of adult size, from 38-53" 9 cm., the average being 43' 3 

 cm., compared with a range of from 27"5-53"5 cm. on liberation, and an average of 

 38' 8 cm. ; the days free ranged from 55 to 1031, averaging 497 days ; the distances 

 migrated were from 4J to 155 miles, the mean being 49*3 miles, and the mean rate of 

 movement, 1 mile per 10 days. 



Nine of the females were under the adult size, the average being 35" 1 cm., as 

 compared with. 32 cm. w^hen they were liberated ; they were at liberty for an 

 average period of 236 days, and migrated distances of from 4J to 88 miles, the mean 

 being 29" 1 miles, and the mean rate of travel, per 10 days, 1*3 miles. 



The Extent and Direction of Migration. 



First Quarter. — None of the marked plaice was recaptured in Ma 3^, but 2 were 

 taken in June, a female, of 30 cm., on liberation, but of unknown size on recapture, 

 was caught, after 34 days, near Kirkcaldy (where it was originally taken), in the 

 Firth of Forth, about 10 miles to the westwards ; the other was a male, of 31" 5-32 

 cm., described as " spent " (and stale), which was taken to the south and east of 

 Tod Head, 53 miles north-east of the station, after 35 days. 



Three females were recaptured in July ; 1, of 33 cm., on hberation, but of un- 

 known size on recapture, was caught near Kirkcaldy, in the Firth of Forth, after 

 57 days ; the other 2 were taken to the east of the Isle of May, at distances of 14| 

 and 33 miles, after 55 days and 78 days, respectively ; the former measured 38' 5- 

 39"4 cm., and the latter was 36*5 cm. on hberation, but on recapture it was not 

 recorded. 



In this quarter, 5 fishes, or only 8*9 per cent, of the total recaptured, were taken, 

 2 within the Firth of Forth. 



Second Quarter. — Three females were recaptured in August, 1, of 37* 5-39" 8 

 cm., after 92 days, near Wemyss, in the Firth of Forth ; another, of 33" 5-36' 5 cm., 

 was taken, after 113 days, to the north of St. Abb's Head, at a distance of 33 miles ; 

 the third, of 33-34*6 cm., was recaptured, after 114 days, off Aberdeen Bay, at a 

 distance of 73 miles. 



Three were taken in September, a male, of 32-37*4 cm., to the east of the Isle of 

 May, at a distance of 34 miles, after 131 days ; a female, of 34-38 cm., after 141 days, 

 near St. Abb's Head, at a distance of 32 miles, to the south and east ; another, 

 also a female, of 32"5-35"2 cm., was taken, after 124 days, off Pittenweem, in the 

 Firth of Forth, at a distance of about 4^ miles. One fish, a male, of 34"5-36"8 cm., 

 was caught in October, after 170 days, far to the eastwards, at a distance of 76 miles. 



Seven plaice, or 12*5 per cent., were recaptured in this quarter, 2 of them in the 

 Firth of Forth. 



Third Quarter. — Two were recaptured in November, a female, measuring 34' 5- 

 38*3 cm., after 197 days, off Largo, in the Firth of Forth, at a distance of 4| miles, 

 and a male, of 30-33*4 cm., after 183 days, near Buchanness, at a distance of 85 

 miles. 



Three were caught in December, a female, of 46-47*2 cm. and " nearly ripe," 

 after 207 days, to the east of the Isle of May, at a distance of 38 miles ; a male, of 

 44-45 cm., and also "nearly ripe," after 230 days, to the east of the Isle of May, 

 at a distance of 21| miles ; and a male, which measured 33*5 cm. on liberation; 



