104 



per cent. Particulars were ascertained for 11, 4 males and 7 females. With one 

 exception, all the fishes were recaptured to the south and west of the station, at 

 distances of from 5 to 10 miles, in the direction of the Firth of Forth and the coast 

 to the east of it. All are described as " immature," except a male of 37-37-3 cm., 

 which was caught 6 miles off on 2nd July, and was described as " ripe." One fish, 

 of 37-5 cm., a male, had moved 17 miles west and north, to the vicinity of the Bell 

 Rock, at a mean speed of 13-1 miles per 10 days. All the fish, it may be mentioned, 

 had moved at a considerable rate, that of the others varying from 3-3 miles to 4-6 

 miles, with the exception of 1 of 1-6 miles. 



In August, 5 of the marked fishes were recaptured (12-5 per cent.), 4 males and 



1 female. The position was ascertained for 3 of the males and for the female ; the 

 female and 2 of the males were found at 5 and 6 miles to the south and west, and 

 the other male was recaptured 6 miles to the north and east. 



In September, 2, both females, were recaptured, 1, 12 miles to the south and 

 west, and the other 13 miles to the south and east. 



Thus, in the first 3 months after Uberation, none of the fishes had made any 

 considerable migration. 



Thus, in July, August, and September, 21, or 52-5 per cent., of the total number 

 recaptured, were taken, particulars being obtained for 18. Fifteen of those (or 

 83-3 per cent.) were recaptured to the south and west for a mean distance of 6 miles, 

 and 1 each to the north and east, the north and west, and the south and east. 



Second Quarter. — ^In October, November, and December, 8 fishes were recaptured, 

 4 females and 4 males. Four, 3 males and 1 female, had moved to the north and 

 east (50 per cent.) for from 23 to 56 miles, the average being 43 miles ; 4, 3 females 

 and 1 male, to the south and west, for distances of from 5 to 19 miles, the average 

 being 8 miles. A male of 32-5 to 35-2 cm., taken on 12th November, 5 miles to the 

 south and west, was " nearly ripe " ; another, caught in December, 56 miles to the 

 north, and measuring 40-40-8 cm., was also " nearly ripe " ; a third, caught 23 

 miles to the north, oS Montrose, in December, and measuring 34-5-38-6 cm., was 

 " three-quarters ripe " ; and the fourth, taken on 30th November, 44 miles to the 

 north, was " about half ripe." In this period, therefore, as the chart of the dis- 

 tances and directions quarterly shows, the characteristic feature of the migration 

 is to the north and east, along the coast ; while, in the period July to September, 

 there was a marked concentration of the fish a short distance to the south and west. 



Third Quarter. — ^Two fishes, both males, were caught in this quarter, and par- 

 ticulars were obtained only in regard to one of them. It measured 36-38-4 cm., and 

 was caught in the Moray Firth, off the Ord of Caithness, at a distance of 144 miles, 

 on 28th February 1912, after 254 days ; it was " ripe." 



Fourth Quarter. — Five fishes were recaptured in April, May, and June, 3 males and 



2 females, but particulars in regard to 1 of the males were not obtained. The 2 

 males and 1 of the females had migrated to the north and east, and were taken as 

 follows : — The female, measuring 35-38-7 cm., on 21st May, after 337 days, at 18 

 miles ; 1 of the males, measuring 35-5-37-3 cm., on 19th April, off Aberdeen, at a 

 distance of 55 miles ; the other male, measuring 31-5-34-4 cm., in the Moray Firth, 

 137 miles distant, on 2nd May, after 318 days. The condition of the testes in this 

 fish was not ascertained, but the other male was " partly spent " and the female was 

 " immature." 



Altogether, as shown in the accompanying table, 36 of the fishes, or 90 per cent., 

 were recaptured within 12 months, 19 (or 95 per cent.) of the males, and 17 (or 

 89-4 per cent.) of the females. Particulars in regard to the positions of recapture 

 of 31 were obtained : 19 (or 61-3 per cent.) moved to the south and west ; 9 (or 29 

 per cent.) to the north and east ; 2 (6-4 per cent.) to the north and west ; and 1 

 (3-2 per cent.) to the south and east. 



[Tablk. 



