96 



Five of the fishes (45'4 per cent.), all females, moved to the north and west, 

 for distances ranging from 21 to 23 miles, the average being 22 miles. Four of 

 these, curiously, were recaptured practically at Station VI., Firth of Forth, where 

 they had been originally taken, viz. from about half a mile to a mile off Pittenweeni 

 or St. Monans ; 1 was recaptured in January, the other 3 in February, after periods 

 of from 311 to 340 days. Three of them are described as " immature " or " rather 

 immature " ; their sizes on liberation and recapture were as follows : — 36*5 to 

 41 cm. ; 28 to 33-3 cm. ; 27*5 to 37-9. One, whose sizes were 37-5 to 42-9 cm., 

 caught on 19th February, is described as " half ripe." The remaining female, 

 which moved north and west, was caught at the mouth of St, Andrews Bay, having 

 moved 21 miles in 351 days ; it was a large fish, measuring 50 to 50*3 cm., and 

 was " spent " when caught on 6th March. 



Other 5 of the fishes (45" 4 per cent.) had migrated northwards, along the coast 

 for considerable distances, varying from 51 to 160 miles, the mean being 112 miles. 

 Three were males and 2 females. Two of the males were taken in the Moray 

 Firth, 1 on 12th March 1912, after 357 days ; its measurements were 36*5-41 cm., 

 but the condition of the testes was not ascertained ; the other was caught off 

 Tarbet Ness on 29th February, after 345 days ; its measurements were 37-42' 4 cm., 

 and this fish was " ripe." The apparent rate of movement of these 2 males were 

 respectively 3*5 miles and 4*5 miles per 10 days. The third male, measuring 

 32'5-39"6 cm., was caught on 7th March, after 352 days, south-east of Auskerry, 

 Orkney Isles, at a distance of 160 miles ; it was " ripe," and had migrated at an 

 apparent rate of 4*5 miles per 10 days. The 2 females had not gone so far, both 

 being recaptured off the coast of Aberdeenshire, 1, measuring 41-45' 1 cm., off 

 Girdleness, a distance of 51 miles, on the 28th February, after 344 days, " fully 

 half ripe," ; the other, measuring 33' 5-40 cm., off Buchannness, a distance of 68 

 miles, on 26th March, after 371 days, "almost ripe." The rate of movement of 

 these fishes was respectively r5 and I'S miles per 10 days. 



It is evident that the features of this quarter differ from those presented in 

 the previous months, and discloses a spawning migration to the north. These 

 long-distance-fish were no doubt on their way north in the previous quarter ; but 

 there are reasons to support the view that the fish partaking in such spawning 

 migrations do not begin to travel with great speed until the reproductive organs 

 are well developed. 



Thus, in the 12 months following liberation, 28 of the marked fish (or 80 per 

 cent.) were recaptured, viz. 11 males (or 84' 6 per cent.) and 17 females (or 77' 3 per 

 cent.), particulars as to direction and distance being furnished for 25 of them. 



[Table. 



