76 



Four of the plaice, all females, were caught m June. One, measuring 42*5- 

 42'6 cm., and " spent," was recaptured, after 73 days, 17 miles to the south-east ; 

 another, of 41-4r5 cm., and also " spent," was taken, after 90 days, 26 miles to 

 the north-east, near the Bell Rock; the third female, measuring 39-39"9 cm., 

 and " immature," was got, after 91 days, east of the Bell Rock, at a distance of 

 28| miles ; the fourth, of 42-5-44 cm., and "spent," was taken, after 91 days, 

 near Aberdeen Bank, at a distance of 59 miles. 



In the first quarter, therefore, 16 of the marked plaice, or 29' 6 per cent, of the 

 total recaptured, were taken, 7 of them within the Firth of Forth. 



Second Quarter. — Two females were taken in July. One, measuring 35*5- 

 37"7 cm., and "immature," was recaptured, after 113 days, to the westward, 

 near Dysart, Firth of Forth, at a distance of 9i miles ; the other was caught to the 

 east of the Isle of May, at a distance of 28 miles, after 124 days ; it measured 

 38" 5-41" 6 cm. ; the condition of the ovaries was not ascertained. 



In August, a male, measuring 33-35'5 cm., was recaptured, after 147 daj'-s, 

 20^ miles to the north-east. 



In Sejitember, a female, of 36-38*4 cm. and " half ripe," was taken, after 

 174 days, to the east of the Isle of May, at a distance of 48 miles. 



Thus, only 4 fishes, or 7*4 per cent., were recaptured in this quarter, 1 of them 

 within the Firth of Forth. 



Third Quartet:. — In October, 2 females were recovered, both to the north and 

 east ; 1, measuring 34*5-40"7 cm., was taken, after 198 days, near the Bell Rock, 

 at a distance of 24 miles ; the other, of 36'5-41'8 cm., was caught, after 205 days, 

 25 miles to the north and east. 



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

 measuring 30'5-37'4 cm., and "immature," was taken, after 226 days, near the 

 Bell Rock, at a distance of 22i miles ; the other male, of 39-40*8 cm., and " nearly 

 ripe," was found in the same direction, at a distance of 16| miles, after 231 

 days. One of the females, measuring 42-44'8 cm., and "half ripe," was re- 

 captured near the Bell Rock, after 221 days, at a distance of 26 miles ; the other 

 female had gone much farther and was caught, after 222 days, near Buchanness, 

 at a distance of 83 miles ; it measured 37"5-40"5 cm., and was " three-quarters 

 ripe." 



In December, 1 male, measuring 33'5-38'6 cm., and " immature," was recaptured, 

 after 259 days, also near Buchanness, at a distance of 89 miles. 



Thus, 7 fish, or 12*9 per cent., were recaptured in the third quarter, all outside 

 the Firth of Forth. 



Fourth Quarter. — In the fourth quarter, which comprises the greater part of 

 the spawning period, the number of fishes captured was greater. In January 

 1914, 1 male and 2 females were taken, all to the north and east. The male was 

 got near Aberdeen Bank, at a distance of 70 miles, after 293 days ; it measured 

 34-36*2 cm., and was " three-quarters ripe." One of the females, measuring 

 37-41*3 cm., and described as "immature," was captured, after 302 days, near 

 Aberdeen, at a distance of 71 miles ; the other female, which measured 40-44*3 

 cm., and was " three-quarters ripe," was taken off Banff, in the Moray Firth, at 

 a distance of 135 miles, after 304 days. 



Six were got in February, 1 male and 5 females. One of the females, which 

 measured 39*5-43*7 cm., was taken, after 328 days, 49 miles to the south and 

 east, 6 miles N.E. of Longstone Light ; the condition of the ovaries was not re- 

 corded. Two of the females were taken not far apart, near Aberdeen, 1 at a distance 

 of 68 miles, after 329 days, and the other at a distance of 74 miles, after 339 days ; 

 they were both described as " immature," and measured respectively 35-39*8 

 cm., and 36*5-4r3 cm. Two females and the male were recaptured in the 

 Moray Firth, 1 of the females, after 331 days, off Banff, at a distance of 135 miles ; 

 it measured 33*5-41*3 cm., and was "spent." The other female was got nearly 

 at the same place, after 337 days ; it measured 59*5-61*9 cm., and was " spent." 

 The male was taken farther to the west, off Tarbet Ness, at a distance of 177 miles, 

 after 336 days ; this fish on liberation measured 33 cm., but neither the size on 

 recapture nor the condition of the testes was ascertained. 



Ten of the plaice were recovered in March, 4 males and 6 females. Two of the 

 females were got in the Firth of Forth, off Pittenweem, at a distance of 5 miles, 



