74 



Of the total recaptured, 16, or 28-G per cent., were found within the Firth of 

 Forth, 7 males (23-3 per cent.), and 9 fenmles (34-6 per cent.), and 40, or 71-4 per 

 cent., outside the Firth, viz. 23 males (76-6 per cent.), and 17 females (65-4 per 

 cent.). Two, both females, were recaptured in the Moray Firth. 



Maturity. 



Males. — Of the 30 males recaptured, the condition of the testes was ascertained 



in 26. 



Four were " spawning," all recaptured to the north and east ; 2 were taken 

 at distances of 17 and 28| miles, 1, of 34-38-1 cm., in February 1913, after 

 275 days, and the other, of 34-5-37-5 cm., in March 1914, after 690 days. The other 

 2 were caught at Aberdeen Bank, 1, of 30-33 cm., in February 1913, after 278 days, 

 at a distance of 75 miles, and the other, measuring 35-44-1 cm., in March 1915, 

 after 1504 days, at a distance of 72 miles. 



Five were " ripe," all taken to the north and east. One, of 38-39-1 cm., was 

 caught in February 1913, after 286 days, 26 miles distant ; another, of 35-5-39-4 cm., 

 was taken in March 1913, after 313 days, off the mouth of the Tay, at a distance 

 of 22| miles ; a third, measuring 31*5-36-8 cm., was got in March 1914, after 

 683 days, 24| miles distant ; the fourth and fifth were caught at Aberdeen Bank, 

 1, of 32-5-35 cm., in February 1913, after 281 days, at a distance of 76 miles; 

 and the other, of 30-37*4 cm., in January 1914, after 617 days, at a distance of 

 66 miles. 



A male, of 31-5-35-3 cm., taken at the Orkney Isles, in May 1913, at a distance 

 of 184 miles, after 359 days, was " spent." Another male, measuring 31-5-32 cm. 

 (and thus under adult size), taken in June 1913, after 35 days, off Tod Head, at 

 a distance of 53 miles, was also described as " spent." 



Three males were " nearly ripe " ; 2 were taken in January 1914, after 625 

 days and 610 days, 1, of 33-39-8 cm., within the Firth of Forth, 2 miles west of 

 the Isle of May, and the other, of 42-42-4 cm., 23 miles to the north and east ; 

 the third, measuring 44-45 cm., was caught in December 1912, after 230 days, 

 21 miles to the north-east, east of the Isle of May. 



Among the males of adult size on recapture were 9 whose testes are described 

 as "immature." Four were taken in the Firth of Forth; 1, of 33-5-35-9 cm., 

 in February 1913, after 289 days, near Leven ; another, of 28-33-4 cm., in March 

 1913, aft,er 296 days, off St. Monans ; a third, of 28-33-8 cm., in April 1913, 

 after 333 days, off Pittenweem ; a fourth, of 28-33*8 cm., in April 1913, after 

 346 days, ofi Buckhaven. In May 1913, after 381 days, a male, of 33*5-35-9 

 cm., and described as " immature," was caught, off Buchanness, at a distance of 

 88 miles. 



Females. — Of the 26 females recaptured, the condition of the ovaries was 

 recorded for 19. 



One was " spawning " ; it was taken in March 1915, after 1031 days, to 

 the east of the Bell Rock, at a distance of 39 miles ; it measured 35-5-43*7 cm. 

 Another female, measuring 42*5-49*2 cm., caught in January 1914, after 616 days, 

 north of St. Abb's Head, at a distance of 25 miles, was said to be " ripe." A female, 

 of 43-47*4 cm., caught in July 1913, after 418 days, 15 miles to the south and 

 east, was described as " spent." Another, of 46-47-2 cm., caught in December 

 1912, after 207 days, 38 miles to the north and east, was "nearly ripe." One, 

 of 33-5-46 cm., caught in December 1914, after 957 days, at Aberdeen Bank, at 

 a distance of 72 miles, was " three-quarters ripe " ; another, of 36-41 cm., taken 

 in January 1914, after 623 days, at Whitehills, Banff, in the Moray Firth, was 

 " fully half ripe " ; and one, of 38-5-44-1 cm., caught in September 1913, after 

 482 days, south of Aberdeen Bank, at a distance of 57 miles, was " about half 

 ripe." 



Two of the 6 females whose ovaries were " immature " were recaptured in 

 the spawning season, 1, of 39-41-4 cm., in February 1913, off Largo, in the Firth 

 of Forth ; the other, of 27-5-38-1 cm. (and thus just at adult size) was caught in 

 April 1914, after 698 days, off Buchanness, at a distance of 90 miles. 



