286 



The Extent and Direction op Migration. 



First Quarter. — Two males and a female were recaptured in November, the 

 female and 1 of the males to the north and east, at 14| and 15 miles, and the other 

 male in the Dornoch Firth, 38 miles to the south and west. 



Two males were taken in December, both at the same place, on the north coast, 

 off Dunnet Head, at a distance of 58 miles to the north and west, the rate of move- 

 ment, per 10 days, in these cases being 41-4 miles. 



A male and a female were recaptured in January 1913,, the female 8 miles to the 

 north and east, and the male near Tarbet Ness> 37 miles to the south and west. 



In February, a male was taken to the north of Kinnaird Head, 24 miles to the 

 south and east, and a female 8J miles to the north and west, off Clythness. 



In this quarter, including the 3 taken in November, 9 of the marked plaice, or 

 33"3 per cent., were recaptured, 3 to the north and east, 3 to the north and west, 



2 to the south and west, and 1 to the south and east. 



Second Quarter. — In March 1913, 3 males and 3 females were found, the males 

 all to the north and west, at 11, 17, and 18 miles, off Clythness ; 1 of the females 

 was taken 12^ miles to the north and west, another in the Dornoch Firth, 45 miles 

 to the south and west, and the third to the northwards, off Auskerry, Orkneys, 

 at a distance of 49| miles to the north and east. 



In April, 1 male and 3 females were taken, 1 of the females in the " Moray 

 Firth," precise position unknown, another near Banff, 29 miles to the south and 

 west, and the third at Burghead Bay, 38| miles to the south and west ; the male 

 was recaptured 17 miles to the north and west, off Noss Head. 



In May, a male and a female were taken to the north and west, the male at a 

 distance of 18 miles and the female at 11 miles. 



Twelve, or 44'4 per cent., were recaptured in this quarter, the positions being 

 known for 1 1 , or 40*7 per cent. : of those, 7 (63'6 per cent.) were got to the north and 

 west, 3 to the south and west, and 1 to the north and east. 



During the remainder of the 12 months, only a single fish was recovered, a male, 

 23 miles to the north"and west, so that, in the 12 months following Uberation, 

 the number recaptured was 22, or 81-5 per cent., the positions being known for 

 21, or 77-7 per cent., of which 11 (52-4 per cent.) were found to the north and west, 

 5 (23-8 per cent.) to the south and west, 4 to the north and east, and 1 to the s luth 

 and east. 



Of the 5 remaining plaice, 4 were taken in 1914 and 1 in 1915. A male and a 

 female were found in February 1914, the male 20 miles to the westwards, in the 

 direction of the Dornoch Firth ; the female is d**cribed as having been taken at 

 " Klem Ness," Moray Firth, which possibly means Clyth Ness. In March, a male 

 was recaptured 23 miles to the north and west, and a female 29 miles to the south 

 and west, near Tarbet Ness. In March 1915, a male was taken near Tarbet Ness, 

 at the mouth of the Dornoch Firth, 39 miles to the south and west. 



Distances travelled — 10 miles and under. — Two fisli, or 8 per cent., were recap- 

 tured under 10 miles, both being females (20 per cent.), 1 taken to the north and 

 east, and the other to the north and west. 



10 to 20 7niles. — ^Nine of the marked plaice, or 36 per cent., were found at dis- 

 tances of from 11 to 18 miles, 6 males (40 per cent.), with an average of 16 miles, and 



3 females (30 per cent.), with a mean of 12-8 miles. Five of the males and 2 of the 

 females were found to the north and west, 1 of the males and 1 of tlie females to 

 the north and east. 



Thus, 11 fish, or 44 per cent., were taken under 20 miles, 6 males and 5 females. 



20 to 50 mfc'.— Twelve, or 48 per cent., were taken at distances of from 20^ 

 to 49i miles, 7 males (46-6 percent.), with an average of 29-2 miles, and 5 females 

 (50 per cent.) with a mean of 38-3 miles. Three of the males and 1 of the females 

 were recaptured to the south and west, 2 of the males to tlie north and west, a male 

 to the south and east, and another directly west, and a female to the north and east. 



50 to 100 miles. — Two males were taken on tlie north coast, each at a distance of 

 58 miles. 



Maturity. 



Males. — The condition of the testes was recorded for 8 of the 15 recaptured. 

 Four were " spawning " ; 1 was taken in February 1913, north of Kinnaird Head, 



