Spawning Grounds of Soles. 55 



number of weeks at a stretch. At first the fish would be full- 

 roed, bat towards the end of the fishing, the majority of the 

 soles caught were spent fish.* He adds, that whenever the cold 

 weather sets in, but especially if accompanied with ice and 

 snow, during the after part of the year, then the soles dis- 

 appear and are not to be found by the shrimper and fish-trawlers 

 in the estuaries of the Thames and Crouch. 



These views of the soles' spawning-places would seem to 

 receive support from what Andrews! and Yarrell affirm of 

 their breeding in the Arun River, Sussex, and Eagle Clarke, 

 in the Humber; besides, soles spawn freely in shallow areas. J 

 On the other side it has been as firmly established that on 

 some parts of the English coasts (Eddystone for example), 

 North Sea, and west of Ireland spawning occurs outside the 

 territorial waters. Our own idea inclines to regard the Thames 

 soles' breeding-grounds as in the direction of the Long Sand. 

 It is, however, quite possible that nearer spots for spawning 

 betimes occur ; for instance, ripe-roed soles have been got near 

 the Nore in April, &c. At all events the subject is well worthy 

 of further investigation in our own area. 



The period of spawning is the spring and summer months ; 

 but we are left in doubt how to account for the very tiny ones 

 at nearly all seasons. The subject of the rate of growth of the 

 flat-fish sole, plaice, dab and others is still an unsettled one. 

 Either the spawning period may in cases commence earlier, or 

 at intervals extend longer than is reckoned. Again, variation 

 in temperature, &c., it is known urges on or retards development. 

 The age of brood has thus formed a fertile subject of discussion 

 among experts. As we have not the data to decide how it 

 stands in our waters, therefore the question must be left open. 

 This may be said that, despite outcry of the shrimpers' wanton 



* One Gravesend witness stated to the Commissioners, 1878, that soles spawned 

 in the Lower Hope. Has the Blyth brood-crowds deceived him ? 



t Zool., 1853 ; likewise Yarrell, Brit. Fishes. 



J Mclntosh, Brit. Mar. Food-Fishes ; also Holt, Jour. Mar. Biol. Assoc., N. Ser., 

 Vol. III. 



