293 



Fourth Quarter. — In the fourth quarter, 3 fish were recaptured, a male in De- 

 cember, on Smith Bank. 20 miles to the north and east. In January 1912, a female 

 was taken 13 miles to the south and east, and in February 1912, another female 

 off Golspie, 18 miles to the north and west. 



In the 12 months following liberation, 12 fish, or 63-2 per cent., were recovered, 

 positions being known for 11, of which 6 were taken to the north and west, 2 each 

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



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



In March 1912, a male was caught at an unspecified position m the Moray 

 Firth. In April, another male was got in the Moray Firth, also at a position un- 

 recorded, and a female 19 miles to the north and west, off Dunrobin Castle. A 

 female was taken in June, 84 miles to the north and east, off Start Point, Orkney. 

 The next fish to be recaptured was a male, which was taken in November 1912, 

 in the Dornoch Firth, 13 miles to the north and west ; then, a female in May 1913, 

 off Foula, 136 miles to the north and east ; and the last, a male, in January 1914, 

 after 1028 days, 8 miles south-west of Cape Wrath, at a distance of 116 miles. 



Distances travelled — 10 yniles and under.— Only 1, or 6-25 per cent., was got 

 within this distance, a female (11-1 per cent.) taken 7J miles to the south and west. 



10 to 20 miles. — Nine, or 56-25 per cent., were found at distances of from 13 to 

 19| miles, viz. 4 males (57'1 per cent.), with an average of 16*5 miles, and 5 females 

 (55"5 percent.), with a mean of 17'5 miles. Three of the males and 4 of the females 

 were found to the north and west. 1 male to the south and west, and 1 female to the 

 south and east. 



Thus, 10, or 62-5 per cent., were recaptured within distances of 20 miles, 4 

 males and 6 females. 



20 to 50 miles. — Three, or 18-75 per cent., were found at distances of from 20 to 

 27 miles, 2 males (28*6 per cent.), 1 to the north and east, and 1 to the north and 

 west, and a female to the north and east. 



50 to 100 miles. — Only 1, a female, was taken within these limits, 84 miles to the 

 north and west, off Start Point, Orkneys. 



Over 100 miles.— A male was taken off Cape Wrath, at a distance of 116 miles, 

 and a female at Foula, Shetland, at a distance of 136 miles to the north and west. 



Maturity. 



Males. — The condition of the testes was ascertained in 4 out of the 9 recaptured. 

 None was "spawning" or "ripe," but 1, caught in January 1914, near Cft-p.-' 

 Wrath, at a distance of 116 miles, was " nearly ripe." 



Females. — The condition of the ovaries of 5 of the 10 recovered was recorde*1. 

 The nearest to the ripe condition was 1, "three-quarters ripe," taken in January 

 1912, 13 miles to the south and east. 



EXPERIMENT II. 



mh April 1911. 



In this experiment, 46 marked plaice were liberated, at the same position as in 

 Experiment I., 15 miles E. |- N. of Tarbet Ness, viz. 20 males and 26 females. The 

 males ranged in size from 24-5 to 44-5 cm., and 12 were under adult size ; the sizes 

 of the females were from 24 to 62 cm., and 12 were under adult size on liberation. 



The fish were taken by the " Goldseeker " in the Dornoch Firth on the 17th 

 April, and kept in tubs until the 19th, owing to rough weather ; only 1 of the fish 

 died in the interval. 



The number recaptured was 21, or 45*7 per cent., viz. 12 males (60 per cent.) 

 and 9 females (.34-6 per cent.). Nine of the males were of adult size, averaging 

 39 cm., and ranging from 34-6 to 45-5 cm. ; they were free for from 170 to 1073 days, 

 the mean period being 368 days ; they travelled an average distance of 51-6 miles, 

 the mean rate being 1-3 miles. Three were under the adult size on recapture, 

 averaging 32-1 cm. ; they were free for a mean period of 236 days, and travelled 

 an average distance of 12-3 miles, at a mean rate of -5 mile per 10 days. Six of the 

 females were of adult size, varying from 39 5 to 52-8 cm., and averaging 47-1 cm. ; 

 they were at liberty for a mean period of 478 days, and had moved an average 



