82 



13 females (32*5 per cent.), with a mean of 75 miles. All were recaptured to the 

 north and east, mostly off the coast of Aberdeenshire. 



Over 100 miles.- — Eighteen, or 26"9 per cent., were got at distances of from 

 106 to 271 miles, viz. 9 males (33"3 per cent.), with an average of 169*7 miles, and 

 9 females (22' 5 per cent.), with an average of 132 miles. All the males but one, 

 and all the females but one, were found to the north and east, mostly in the Moray 

 Firth, or offshore ; 1 male was taken at Smith's Knoll, oft" the coast of Norfolk, 

 at a distance of 271 miles to the south and east, and 1 of the females off Hartlepool, 

 at a distance of 113 miles in the same direction. 



Maturity. 



Males. — The condition of the testes was recorded for 26 of the 29 recaptured. 



Nine were described as " spawning," an unusual number, aJid all were taken 

 to the north and east, 1 at a distance of 11 miles, and the others at distances of 

 from 40 to 166 miles. Two were caught in February 1913 and January 1914, in 

 the Moray Firth, at distances respectively of 166 and 145 miles ; 2 were taken off 

 Buchanness, 1 in February 1913, and the other in June 1915. 



Two wei'e said to be "ripe," 1 found in March 1913, off Auskerry, at a distance 

 of 191 miles to the north and east ; the other, in December 1913, at a distance of 

 23 miles to the north and east. 



One was "spent." It was recaptured oft' Bell Rock, 19 miles to the north-east, 

 after 480 days. 



Three were " nearly ripe," 1 taken in November 1913, 57 miles to the north 

 and east, near Tod Head; 1 in October 1913, in the Moray Firth, off Noss Head, 

 at a distance of 167 miles ; the third, in December 1913, also oft' Noss Head, at 

 155 miles distant. 



Among those whose testes were " immature," was one, measuring 35'5-35"9 cm., 

 taken in February 1913, 57 miles to the north and east, and another, of 39-39"8 cm., 

 caught in April 1913, 90 miles to the north and east, in Peterhead Bay. 



Females. — The condition of the ovaries was ascertained in 36 of the 41 recaptured. 

 One, taken in March 1914, north-east of the Bell Rock, at 33 miles to the north 

 and east, was " spawning." 



Two were described as " ripe," 1 taken in January 1914, 71 miles to the north 

 and east, off Aberdeen ; the other, caught in May 1914, 106 miles to the north and 

 east, far offshore. 



Five were described as " spent," 1 caught in March 1913, in the Moray Firth, 

 off Banff, at a distance of 145 miles ; another, got in April 1913, within the 

 Firth of Forth, off Pittenweem, at a distance of 9 miles ; the third, in May 



1913, south-east of Buchanness, at a distance of 97 miles to the north and east ; 

 the fourth, in April 1914, 72 miles to the north and east, off Aberdeen ; and the 

 last, in March 1914, at a distance of 24 miles to the north and east, near the 

 Bell Rock. 



Three were said to be " nearly ripe," 1 captured in December 1912, 72 miles 

 to the north and east, off Aberdeen ; 1 ir January 1914, in the Moray Firth, off 

 Macduff, at 145 miles distant ; the third, in March 1914, 113 miles to the south 

 and east, off Hartlepool. 



Among those of adult size which were described as " immature," the following 

 were taken within the limits of the spawning season : — One, in January 1914, 

 which measured 36" 5-43" 7 cm., and was caught 72 miles to the north and east, 

 off Aberdeen ; 1, in February 1913, measuring 40-40*2 cm., recovered off Pitten- 

 weem, in the Firth of Forth, at a distance of 9 miles ; 2, in March 1913, measuring 

 lespectively 37-5-38-3 cm. and 39-39*4 cm., within the Firth of Forth, off Pitten- 

 weem, at 8 and 15 miles distant ; another female, recaptured in March 1914, 18 

 miles to the north and east, measuring 44* 5-48* 9 cm. 



Among those under adult size, 2 were described as " spent," 1 taken off Banff, 

 in the Moray Forth, 145 miles to the north and east, in March 1913, and measuring 

 37"5-37'8 cm. ; the other, which measured 3r5-36'9 cm., was recaptured in April 



1914, off Buchanness, 86 miles to the north and east. There was also one described 

 as "nearly ripe," which measured 37'5-37"5 cm., and was taken in December 

 1912, 72 miles to the north and east. 



