199 



Thus, 15 of the fish, or 24*2 per cent., were got at distances under 20 miles, 

 8 males (25'5 per cent.), with an average distance of 9-9 miles, and 7 females (22'6 

 per cent.), with a mean of 11 "2 miles. 



20 to 50 miles.— Twenty-two of the recaptured plaice, or 35"5 per cent,, were taken 

 at distances of from 20i to 47 miles, 9 males (29 per cent.), with an average of 30'7 

 miles, and 13 females (41"9 per cent.), with an average of 32 miles. Five of the 

 males and 3 of the females were found to the north and west, 4 males and 7 females 

 to the south and west, 2 females to the north and east, and 1 female to the south 

 and east. 



50 to 100 7nile6. — Sixteen, or 25"8 per cent., were taken at distances of from 51 to 

 100 miles, 6 males (19"3 per cent.), with an average of 79 miles, and 10 females (32'2 

 per cent.), with an average of 61*5 miles. Three of the males were taken to the 

 north and west, 1 male and 1 female to the north and east, 1 male and 8 females to 

 the south and west, 1 male to the south, and I female to the south and ea.«t. 



Over 100 miles. — Nine, or 14'5 per cent., migrated distances of iiom 101 to 172 

 miles, viz. 8 males (25"8 per cent.), with an average of 120"1 miles, and 1 female (3'2 

 per cent.), which went 106 miles. Five of the males and the female were recaptured 

 in the Moray Firth, or its vicinity, while 3 of the males were taken off the coast of 

 England, to the southwards. 



Maturity. 



Males. — Of the 31 males recaptured, the condition of the testes was recorded 

 for 25. 



Three were " spawning," 2 being taken in the Moray Firth, and the third off Kin- 

 naird Head, the former in February and March 1913, after 231 and 244 days 

 repectively, at distances of 106 and 108 miles ; the latter, in March 1914, after 612 

 days, at a distance of 71 miles ; all were large, measurine respectively 39'5-40*2 cm., 

 38- 5-40- 3 cm., and 33-5-40 cm. 



Five M^ere described as "ripe" ; 2 of them were taken in the Moray Firth, 

 in February 1913, after 214 and 216 days, at distances of 77 and 100 miles 

 respectively ; 1 was caught off Tynemouth in January 1913, at a distance of 114 

 miles, after 186 days, and 2 were taken short distances to the north and west, 1 at 

 7 miles in January 1914, and the other at 9| miles in May 1914. 



One was said to be " spent " : it was taken in the Moray Firth, in May 1913, 

 at a distance of 104 miles. 



Four were described as " nearly ripe " ; one was got in January 1913, off 

 Banff, in the Moray Firth, at a distance of 77 miles ; another, m November 1912, 

 41 miles to the south and west, the third in December 1912, 23J miles to the north 

 and west, and the fourth in December 1913, 26J miles to the north and west. 



Among those of adult size on recapture and described as "immature," was the 

 folloAAnng fish, taken within the limits of the spawning season : — It measured 

 34-36-4 cm., and was caught in March 1913, at a distance of only 5 miles to the 

 north and west. 



Femnles. — The condition of the ovaries was recorded in 28 of the 31 females 

 recaptured. 



None was " spawning " or " ripe." 



Two were described as "spent," 1, measuring 59-59-3 cm., taken in August 

 1912, 24 miles to the south and west ; the other, of 40-43-1 cm., taken in May 1913, 

 32 miles to the north and west. 



Four were described as "nearly ripe"; 1, of 52-51-4 cm., was taken in 

 November 1912, after 139 days, o^ Dunbar, 65 miles to the south and west ; another, 

 of 60-60-2 cm., was caught in December 1913, after 524 days, to the west of the 

 Bell Eock, at a distance of 51 miles to the south and west ; the third was caught 

 in February 1913, after 229 days, in the Moray Firth, at a distance of 106 miles ; 

 it measured 50-5-50-2 cm. ; the fourth, measuring 46-46-5 cm., was recaptured, 

 also in February 1913, only 8 miles distant, to the north and west. 



Among those of adult size, with " immature " ovaries, 3 were recaptured in 

 the spawning season, viz. 1 of 32-49 cm., in January 1915, after 933 days, 34 miles 

 to the north and east ; 1, taken in March 1915, after 997 days, 28 miles to the 

 south and west ; a third, of 37-39-9 cm., caught in April 1913, after 271 days. 

 15| miles to the south and west. 



