291 



first to the northwards, then westwards, and then southwards ; in this case the 

 mean rate of movement, per 10 days, was 16 •! miles. 



Two females and a male were taken in June, the male 10 miles to the north 

 and east, both females to the north and west, at distances of 18 and 25 miles to 

 the south of Berriedale Ness. 



In this quarter, 6 fish, or 17-6 per cent., were recaptured, 4 to the northwards, 

 and 2 to the westwards and northwards. 



Fourth Quarter. — None was recovered during this period, so that the total for 

 the year was 29, or 85 "3 per cent., the position being known for 27, or 79*4 per 

 cent., of which 6 had moved towards the north and east, 6 to the north and west, 

 14 to the south and west (51-8 per cent.), and 1 to the south and east. 



Of the remaining fish, 3 were taken in 1915, and 1 in 1916. In February 1915, a 

 female was caught on the bank opposite " Traigh Mhor," Aiisaig, on the west 

 coast of Inverness (Lat. 55° 56' N. ; Long. 5° 54' W.), and landed at Oban ; the 

 distance migrated was 217 miles, and the mean rate of movement 4 '7 miles. 

 In March a male was recaptured 5 miles to the north and west, and in October, a 

 female, at Burghead, 34 miles to the south and west. The last fish to be taken, 

 a male, was found in February 1916, after 822 days, off Brora, in the Dornoch 

 Firth, 26 miles to the south and west. One of the marked plaice, a male, was 

 landed at Hull, in March 1914, and said to have been caught " off East Home, 

 Iceland." 



The chart showing the lines of migration represents the great majority of the 

 fish as having moved to the south and west, from the south of Berriedale Ness to 

 a Uttle east of Burghead. Eight were taken in the Dornoch Firth, or near it, and 

 5 in the vicinity of Burghead. 



Distances travelled — 10 miles and under. — Seven, or 22 "6 per cent., were found 

 at distances of from 3| to 10 miles, 4 males (28"6 per cent.), with an average of 

 5-7 miles, and 3 females (17"6 per cent.), with an average of 5-2 miles ; 2 of the 

 males and 2 of the females were found to the north and west, 1 male and 1 female 

 to the north and east, and a male to the south and east. 



10 to 20 mi^es.— Four, or 12-9 per cent., were taken at distances of from 11 to 

 19 miles, 2 males (14"3 per cent.), with an average of 11 miles, and 2 females (11-8 per 

 cent.), mth an average of 18*75 miles ; a male and a female were got to the north 

 and west, a male to the south and west, and a female to the north and east. 



Eleven, or 35"5 per cent., were thus recaptured under 20 miles, 6 males (42 "8 per 

 cent.), with a mean of 7 "5 miles, and 5 females (29 "4 per cent.), with a mean of 

 10-6 miles. 



20 to 50 miles. — Seventeen, or 54*8 per cent., moved from 21 1 to 37 miles, 

 8 males (57*1 per cent.), with an average of 26 "4 miles, and 9 females (52-9 per cent.), 

 with an average of 29"5 miles ; all the males and 7 of the females were found to 

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

 west. 



50 to 100 miles.— One fish, or 3-2 per cent., was got at a distance of 76 miles 

 to the north and then west ; it was a female (5'9 per cent.). 



Over 100 miles. — Two, or 6"45 per cent., were taken on the west coast, both 

 females (11 '8 per cent.), at 217 and 277 miles respectively. 



Maturity. 



Males. — The condition of the testes was recorded for 10 of the 16 recaptured. 

 Of these, no less than 7 were described as " spawning " ; 6 were recaptured in 

 February 1914, 5 to the south and west, 1 at a distance of 11 miles, and 4 at the 

 outer part of the Dornoch Firth, 24, 26, 27, and 27 miles distant ; the fifth was 

 taken 11 miles to the north and west, south of Berriedale Ness ; 1 was got in 

 March 1914, near Tarbet Ness, at the mouth of the Dornoch Firth ; all these males 

 were well over adult size, measuring from 38*8 to 42 '7 cm. ; 1 was found in January 

 1914, 4J miles to the north and west, and was described as " nearly ripe," and 

 another, caught in February 1914, was " spent," but the place of capture was not 

 ascertained. 



Females. — The condition of the ovaries was recorded in 9 of the 18 recaptured. 

 None was " spawning " or " ripe." Four were described as " spent," 1 in Maich 



