77 



1, after 363 days, measuring 33-39*9 cm., and "immature," and tlie other, of 

 435-48 cm., after 365 days, and " spent." A third fish, of 35'5-41 cm., was talcen, 

 after 352 days, at a distance of 26J miles to the north-east, " spawning.' Another 

 female, which measured 42-44*9 cm., and was described as "immature," was 

 recaptured, after 345 days, 120 miles to the south and east, 35 miles S.E. by E. of 

 North Shields. The two remaining females were taken in the Moray Firth, 1, 

 which measured 39-43" 9 cm., after 340 days, south of Smith Bank, at a distance 

 of 153 miles, the condition of the ovaries not being recorded ; the other, of 35 cm., 

 on hberation, but of unknown size on recapture, was found, after 343 days, off 

 Whitehills, Banff, at a distance of 135 miles ; it was " immature." Three of the 

 males were also recaptured in the Moray Firth, 1, measuring 35-41" 6 cm., and 

 "ripe," 25 miles north by east of Buckie (south-west of Smith Bank), after 343 days, 

 the distance being 158 miles ; another, measuring 35"5-40"4 cm., and "spawning," 

 was taken in the same locality, at a distance of 160 miles, after 344 days ; the 

 third was caught by a foreign trawler and landed at Ostend, the precise position 

 of capture in the Moray Firth not being stated ; it measured 33"5 cm. on hberation, 

 but no lecord was made of its size on recovery, or of the condition of the testes. 

 One male had made its way to the west coast of Scotland, and was recaptured, 

 after 351 days, at Gairloch, Ross-shire, a distance of 301 miles ; it measured 37- 

 42 cm., but the condition of the testes was not ascertained. 



Li this quarter, therefore, 19 marked plaice, or 34"5 per cent., were recovered, 

 2 in the Firth of Forth ; 2 were taken to the south and east, and the others to 

 the north and east. 



Thus, in the 12 months immediately following the hberation of the fish, 46, 

 or 83"6 per cent., were recaptured ; the place of capture of one was not ascertained. 

 All the other fish recovered were taken in the year 1914. Two were got in April, 

 a female, of 31-42 cm., after 399 days, near Buchaimess, at a distance of 85 miles, 

 and a male, of 33-40 cm., after 379 days, at the mouth of the Moray Firth, at 

 a distance of 135 miles ; the condition of the reproductive organs was not ascer- 

 tained for either of these fish. 



Tn May, 2 females were caught, 1, of 32"5-42"3 cm., and " immature," after 

 401 days, to the east of the Shetlands, at a distance of 185 miles, and the other, 

 of 39-44"8 cm., and also " immature," after 429 days, near Aberdeen, 65 miles 

 away. 



Three were recaptured in July, a male, of 35-39"5 cm., after 474 days, near 

 Aberdeen, at a distance of 74 miles ; a female, of 38"5-47"5 cm., after 464 days, 

 off Buchanness, at a distance of 101 miles ; and another female, of 37*5 cm. on 

 hberation, but of unknown size on recapture, after 468 days, at the mouth of the 

 Moray Firth, at a distance of 137 miles. Another female, of 34-5-40-8 cm., was 

 recaptured in August, after 519 days, near Buchanness, at a distance of 88 miles ; 

 and the last fish to be taken, a female, of 41"5-48"2 cm., and " nearly ripe," 

 was caught in December, after 634 days, near Aberdeen, at a distance of 74 

 miles. 



Distances travelled. — Ten of the marked plaice, or 18"5 per cent., w^ere recaptured 

 at distances of from 2^ to 9^ miles, viz. 6 males (33"3 per cent.), with an average 

 of 4"7 miles, and 4 females (ITl per cent.), with an average of 6"4 miles. They were 

 all taken within the Firth of Forth, on the north shore, 6 off Pittenweem, 2 off 

 Largo, 1 oft' Elie, and 1 off Dysart. 



10 to 20 miles. — Three, or 5-5 per cent., were got oft" the Isle of May, at 16| 

 and 17| miles, 1 male and 2 females, the male and 1 of the females to the north 

 and east, and the other female to the south and east. 



Under 20 miles. — Thirteen fish, or 24"1 per cent., therefore, migrated journeys 

 of less than 20 miles, 7 males (38"8 per cent.), with an average distance of 6"4 miles, 

 and 6 females (16"6 per cent.), with an average of 9"9 miles. 



20 to 50 miles. — Fourteen fish, or 25"9 per cent., travelled from 20-| to 49| miles, 

 namely, 3 males (16"6 per cent.), with an average of 22"5 miles, and 11 females 

 (30"5 per cent.), with a mean distance of 31 miles. All the males were taken to 

 the north and east, and 10 of the females, also to the north and east, the eleventh 

 being got to the south and east. 



50 to 100 miles. — Thirteen fish, oi' 24-1 per cent., migrated distances of from 

 59 to 89 miles, namely, 3 males (16'0 per cent.), with an average of 77"7 miles, 



