Distribution of Plaice Eggs — Dornoch Firth. 



13 



The general study of the distribution of plaice eggs shows that the 

 area within which they occur is a well-defined one. This area in the 

 northern part of the North Sea is bounded by a line which runs almost 

 parallel and adjacent to the fifty fathom (or 100 metre) line ; then 

 parallel to the coast of Scotland from Rattray Head to the Firth of 

 Forth, including practically all localities, a less depth than forty fathoms. 

 For the pm'pose of description it is convenient to divide this region into 

 the following sub-areas : — Moray Firth, outlying Moray Firth Stations, 

 Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney, East of Scotland (South of Moray 

 Firth), Firth of Forth, Stations East of Firth of Forth, Minch. 



PLAICE EGGS. 



Dornoch Firth. 



December-March 1904-1913. 



NoTB. — The percentages in the different developmental stages are calculated 

 from the total number of eggs examined. 



The Moray Firth Area. 



(a) TJie Dornoch Firth. 



It has been shown already that the Dornoch Firth is one of the 

 most important spawning grounds for the plaice in the Northern North 



