279 



In May, 4 maies and 3 females were recaptured ; the plnce of capture of 1 of the 

 females was not recorded ; the other females were taken to the north, and west, 1 at a 

 distance of 3| miles, and the other at 7 miles ; 1 of the males was recaptured 3 miles 

 to the north and west, another on the noith coast, off Dunnet Head, at a distance of 

 48 miles to the north and west, another at 62 miles to the north and east, to the 

 west of the Orkney Isles ; the remaining male is described as having been recap- 

 tured at a distance of 188 miles to the east and south (Lat. 58° 12'N. ; Long. 3° 15' E.). 



In June, 2 females were taken, both to the north and east, off Auskerry, Orkney 

 Isles, one at 50 J and the other at 59 miles. 



Thus, in this quarter, 12 of the marked plaice, or 25 per cent, were recaptured, 

 the position of capture of 2 being unrecorded Of the remaining 10, or 20'8 per 

 cent., 5 (50 per cent.) were found to the north and east, 3 to the north and 

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



No other fish was recaptured until October 1912, so that, within a twelvemonth 

 of hberation, 40 of the marked fish, or 83 "3 per cent, were taken, but the position of 

 recapture was recorded for only 33 or 68'7 per cent. Of these, 15 (45"4 per cent.) 

 were found to the north and east, 10 (30*3 per cent.) to the south and east, 6 (18"2 

 per cent.) to the north and west, and 2 to the south and west. 



Of the remaining fish, 2 were taken in 1912, 5 in 1913, and 1 in 1914. 



In October 1912, a female was recaptured 35 miles to the north and east, off- 

 shore, east of Noss Head. A male was got in November, in the " Moray Firth," 

 and landed at Cuxhaven. 



In March 1913, a male and a female were recovered, the male at 5 miles distant 

 to the north and east, and the female 19| miles to the north and west, north of 

 Tarbet Ness. In April, a male was recaptured off the Butt of Lewis, on the west 

 coast, at a distance of 140 miles to the north and west. In May, a female was taken 

 20 miles to the north-east, and in July, a male 7 miles to the north and west. 



The last fish to be taken was a male in February 1914, 8| miles to the north and 

 west. 



Distances travelled — 10 miles and under. — Eighteen fish, or 45 per cent., were 

 taken at distances of from 3 to 10 miles, viz. 9 males (50 per cent.), with an average 

 of 6*4 miles, and 9 females (42*8 per cent.), with a mean of 6-5 miles. Four of the 

 males and 4 of the females were taken to the north and west, 1 of the males and 3 

 of the females to the south and east, 4 males and 1 female to the north and east, and 

 1 female to the south and west. 



10 to 20 miles. — Three fish, or 7 '5 per cent., were recaptured at distances of from 

 12 to 1 9J miles, viz. 1 male and 2 females. 



Thus, 21 fish, or 52*5 per cent., were found at distances under 20 miles. 10 males 

 (55"5 per cent.), with an average of 6"9 miles, and 11 females (52'3 per cent.), with an 

 average of 8'6 miles. 



20 to 50 miles. — Eleven fish, or 27*5 per cent., were recaptured at distances of 

 from 20 to 48 miles, 3 males (16"6 per cent.), with an average of 32-8 miles, and 8 

 females (38*1 per cent.), with an average of 36 miles. Two of the males and 3 of the 

 females were found to the northward, 1 of the males and 4 of the females to the 

 south and east, and 1 of the females to the south and west. 



50 to 100 miles. — Six fish, or 15 per cent., were recaptured at distances of from 

 50J to 68 miles, 3 males (16.6 per cent.), with an average of 64 "8 per cent., 2 females 

 (9"5per cent.), with a mean of 54 "7 miles. All these fish were got to the northward, 

 as was also 1 whose sex was unknown. 



Over 100 miles.-~-Two fish, or 5 per cent., were found at distances of 140 miles to 

 the north and westward, and 184 miles to the south and east. Both were males. 



Maturity. 



Males. — The condition of the testes was ascertained in 9 of the 22 recaptured. 

 Four were described as "ripe," 1 caught in February 1912, on the north coast, off' 

 Strathie Point, at a distance of 67 miles, another, also off Strathie Point, in Januar}- 

 1912, at a distance of 64 miles, the third 12 miles to the north and east in April 1912, 

 and the fourth, in February 1914, 8| miles to the north and west, off Clythness, 

 Two were " nearly ripe," both taken in February 1912, one 3| miles to the north 



