205 



cm. on liberation ; they were at liberty for from 3 to 349 days, the average being 

 74 days, and they travelled distances of from 4 to 68 miles, the average being 24*7 

 miles, and the mean rate 3-35 miles per 10 days. 



The Extent and Direction of Migration. 



First Quarter. — In the remainder of March, 5 females were recaptured, 4 to the 

 north and west, at distances of from 6|to 9 oiiles, and 1, 10| miles to the north and 

 east. One, measuring 44-44-3 cm., was "spent" ; it was taken 6| miles to the 

 north and west. 



Ten females and 4 males were taken in April, 6 to the north and west, at dis- 

 tances of from 4 to 9 miles, 5 to the south and west, at distances of from 11 to 25 

 miles, 2 directly north, at distances of 11 miles, and 1, 13 miles to the south and 

 east. Four of the females were described as " spent," 2 caught to the north and 

 west, and 2 to the south and west. 



In May, 5 females and 2 males were taken ; 3 to the north and west, 3 to the 

 south and west, and 1 to the north and east ; the last named, a male, of 41'5-42"3 

 cm., is described as having been caught, after 46 days, 154 miles to the north and 

 cast, offshore, in 69 fathoms (Lat. 59° 5' N. ; Long. 1° 20' E.), and was landed at 

 North Shields ; a male and 2 females, taken to the north and west, had gone dis- 

 tances of 9|, 9|, and 16| miles respectively ; of the 3 females recaptured to the 

 south and west, 1 was got at a distance of 19 miles, 1 near the Bell Rock, at a distance 

 of 45 miles, and the other north of the Bell Rock at a distance of 40 miles. 



In this quarter, 26 of the marked plaice, or 34*2 per cent., were recovered, 13 

 (50 per cent.) to the north and west, at an average distance of 8 miles in the mean 

 direction N. 55° W. ; 8 to the south and west, in the mean direction S. 67° W., 

 at an average distance of 23 miles ; 2 (7'7 per cent.) to the north and east ; 2 to the 

 north, and 1 to the south and east. The lines of migration on the quarterly chart 

 mostly radiate towards the coast, to the westwards and south, but 8 of the fish were 

 recaptured to the north of the station. 



Second Quarter. — Nine females and 1 male were taken in June, 4 to the north 

 and west, and 6 to the south and west. Three of the females were caught at dis- 

 tances of 16i, 19, and 19 miles respectively to the north and west, and the male 

 off Noss Head, Moray Firth, at a distance of 96 miles in the same direction. Of 

 the 6 females taken to the south and west, one was got east of St. Abb's Head, at 

 a distance of 58 miles ; another was taken north of St. Abb's Head, at a distance 

 of 52 miles ; a third south-east of the Bell Rock, at a distance of 48 miles ; one 

 offshore, east of the Isle of May. at a distance of 39 miles ; another at a distance 

 of 32 miles ; and the last at 5 miles distant. 



A female was recaptured in July, 16 miles to the north and east. 



In August, 2 males and 4 females were taken, 3 of the females to the south and 

 west, and 1 to the north-west ; 1 male was taken to the north-west, and the other 

 to the south and east ; 1 female had migrated 33 miles to the south and west, and 

 was caught to the east of the Bel! Rock ; other 2 were found 15 and 15| miles to 

 the south and west ; 1 female was taken 20 miles to the north and west^ south- 

 east of Aberdeen ; 1 male was recaptured 4 miles to the north and west, and 

 another 26 miles to the south and east, in the offshore waters. 



In this quarter, 17 fish, or 22-4 per cent., were recovered. Nine (52-9 percent.) 

 went to the south and west, in the mean direction S. 53° W., at an average distance 

 of 34 mih s ; 6 were taken to the north and west, at a mean distance of 29 miles, 

 in the mean direction N. 63° W. ; and 1 each to the north and east and south and 

 east. The migration hues on the chart are much the same as in the first quarter, 

 but are spread more seawards, to the south. 



Third Quarter. — A male was caught in September, 12 miles to the north and 

 west ; another in October, 26 J- miles to the south and east ; and a female in Novem- 

 ber, to the south-east of the Bell Rock, at a distance of 43 miles to the south and 

 west. 



Thus, only 3 of the marked plaice were recaptured in the third quarter, or 3"9 

 per cent. 



Fourth Quarter. — Two males and 2 females were taken in December, one of the 

 females 22^ miles to the north and west, south-east of Aberdeen, and the other 



