152 



The Extent and Direction op Migration. 



First Quarter. — In June 1912, which is included in this period, 2 males and a 

 female were recaptured. One of the males, of 33-32-5 cm., and " spent," was 

 taken the next day after hberation, at a position described as 23| miles S.E. \ S. 

 of Tod Head, which represents a distance of 21 miles to the north-west ; the fish 

 was taken by an English trawler and landed at North Shields. The other male, 

 which measured 35-34-6 cm., and was " immature," was got, after 17 days, 9 miles 

 to the north and west. The female, which was 34-5-33-1 cm., was taken, after 15 

 days, 3|- miles to the westward. 



In July, 9 fish, all females, were recaptured, all but 1 being under adult size. 

 One, measuring 38-5-38-8 cm., was recovered, after 26 days, off St. Abb's Head, 

 at a distance of 24 miles. Another, of 35-5-36 cm., was also captured to the east of 

 St. Abb's Head, at a distance of 28 miles to the south and west. A third, measuring 

 35-35 cm., was taken, after 30 days, 15 miles to the south and west. A fourth, of 

 38-37-5 cm., was recaptured, after 45 days, to the north-east of St. Abb's Head, at 

 a distance of 14 miles to the south-east of the station. The fifth, measuring 37-37-1 

 cm., was taken, after 42 days, north-east of the Bell Rock, at a distance of 25 miles. 

 The sixth, of 32-5-32-9 cm., was caught, after 36 days, 15 miles to the north-west. 

 The seventh, of 38-37-3 cm., was found, after 40 days, at a distance of 13 miles in 

 the same direction. The 2 remaining fish moved directly west, 1, of 32-31*7 cm., 

 being taken, after 37 days, at a distance of 32 miles, near the Isle of May, and the 

 other, which measured 31-.30-6 cm., in the same direction, at 12 miles distant, 

 after 29 days. 



Two females were recovered in August, 1, of 41-5-41-3 cm., after 64 days, at 3^ 

 miles to the north and east, and the other, of 35 cm., on liberation was taken, after 

 75 days, to the south-east of Longstone Light, at B9 miles distant. 



In the first quarter, then, 14 fishes were recaptured, or 25-9 per cent., 2 males 

 and 12 females. Five (35-7 per cent.) had migrated north and west, towards the 

 coast ; 4 (28-6 per cent.) to the south and west, towards the Firth of Forth ; 2 

 had moved south and east ; 2 west ; and 1 north and east. 



Second Quarter. — In September, 4 fish were taken, 3 females and 1 male, the 

 females all being under the adult size. The male, which measured 36-5-37-8 cm., 

 was caught, after 92 days, 18 miles to the south and west. One of the females was 

 got in the same locality, at a distance of 16| miles, after 104 days. Another was 

 taken, after 90 days, ofi the Isle of May, at 32 miles distant to the south and west. 

 The remaining female was recaptured, after 86 days, 13 miles to the south and 

 west. 



One female was recovered in October, off St. Abb's Head, at a distance of 24 

 miles, after 125 days ; it measured 28-29*4 cm. 



Two females were recaptured in November. One, of 34-37-5 cm., was taken, 

 after 161 days. 23 miles to the south and west. The other, which measured 30-32-1 

 cm., was caught, after 145 days, 24 miles to the south and west, towards the Firth 

 of Forth. 



Thus, 7 fish, or 12-9 per cent., were recaptured in the second quarter, all of 

 them to the south and west. 



Third Quarter.— In December 1912, 3 males were taken, 1, measuring 32-32-4 

 cm., after 194 days, 15 miles to the west. Another, of 32-35-2 cm., and " nearly 

 spent," was got, after 196 days, off Sule Skerry, on the north coast of Scotland, at 

 a distance of 194 miles. The third male, of 31-32-5 cm., and described as " very 

 immature," was caught, after 201 days, to the north and west, ofi St. Andrews 

 Bay, at 26 miles distant. 



In January 1913, a female was taken, after 222 days, at a locality unspecified. 



In February, seven plaice were recovered, 2 males and 5 females. One of the 

 males, which measured 37-5-38 cm., but the condition of whose testes was not 

 determined, was caught, after 238 days, offshore, at 139 miles to the south-east 

 (54° 20' N. ; 0° 30' E.). The other male, of 34-37-2 cm., and " spawning," was 

 recaptured to the south-east of Aberdeen, at a distance of 37 miles, after 260 days. 

 One of the females, which measured 38-40-8 cm., and was " immature," was got, 

 after 237 days, near Aberdeen, at a distance of 47 miles. Another female, which 

 was 41-5-41-6 cm., and is described as "apparently spent," was found, after 259 



