49 
increases again toward midsummer. After midsummer 
they become less abundant, but during the autumn and 
early winter they increase again. ‘That is to say, that 
except for the increase towards midsummer, which is 
characteristic for both grounds, and is largely due to the 
appearance of fish of that same vear’s spawning, their 
distribution on the two areas is to some extent comple- 
mentary. The general conclusion is confirmed by the 
study of the figures for the separate years (as far as these 
go). This curious behaviour of the same fish on two 
adjacent areas is perhaps to be explained by supposing 
that migration from the one area to the other takes place 
during the spring and autumn. What the causes of such 
migration may be we are not in a position to say. The 
migrating fish are largely those of that same year’s 
spawning. 
It might be expected that the distribution of dabs 
would follow closely that of plaice. It will be seen that 
the curve of distribution (III.) on Area A is very similar 
to that for plaice. The minimum for both fishes occurs 
at the beginning or end of the year, but the maximum 
catch was taken earlier in the year in the case of the dab. 
In the three years, 1895, 4, and 5, for which the data 
are most complete, the maximum catches of dabs were 
made earlier than those of plaice. As in the case of 
whiting the curve shows two maxima which have the same 
positions. 
The distribution of dabs on Area B is not exactly 
similar to that of plaice, but seems to be rather irregular. 
It is, however, the case that large catches were made there 
at the beginning and end of the year. The catches made 
about the middle of the year are, however, somewhat 
irregular. 
D 
