226 MARKETABLE BRITISH MARINE FISHES 



In June and July, 1891, twenty-one specimens of the )'oung 

 dab ranging in size from ro5 to 3-4 cm. (yV to iy\p inch) were 

 taken in Cawsand Bay and Whitsand Bay, near Plymouth. 

 Small specimens continued to be taken during the autumn and 

 winter until the following April : the size of these was from i 

 inch to 37 inches, and all could be considered to be derived 

 from the previous spawning, that is to say to be one }-car old or 

 less. On May loth in the Cattewater specimens i4 inch to 3 Cl- 

 inches were taken, and even the smallest of these must have 

 been hatched the previous year. Thus in this species we have 

 evidence as in others that some specimens hatched in one season 

 are found in the following spring at a very small size, having 

 grown very slowly during the autumn and winter. 



The following observation on the growth of young dabs in 

 the aquarium was made at Plymouth. From September 29th to 

 October 12th, 1891, forty-eight specimens were collected from 

 Plymouth Sound : they varied from 4 cm. to 6-5 cm. in length 

 (if inch to 24 inches). They were kept in a tank measuring 5 

 feet by 2h feet in area, and i foot 6 inches in depth, and were 

 fed on worms, &c. Measured on March 21st, 1892, they were 

 found to be from 5 cm. to 12 '2 cm. in length (2 inches to 4^ 

 inches). None of them showed any signs of sexual maturity. 



On March 3rd, 1893,' twenty-three fish survived in this experi- 

 ment, and these were measured and examined wath the follow- 

 ing results : — 



There were fourteen females 4^ inches to 8} " inches long. 

 Do. nine males 4I do. to 7^ do. 



Two females 7^ and 8^ inches long were ripening, but no 

 others showed signs of sexual maturity : as they were examined 

 only once however during the spawning season too much stress 

 must not be laid on this. 



The immature dabs after the larval period are, like the adults, 

 scattered over wide areas and found at nearly all depths. They 

 are not taken in very large numbers in the marginal waters with 

 the young plaice, but with a net of sufficiently small mesh they 

 may be taken at depths of 3 to 35 fathoms. 



The food of 175 young dabs ih inch to 3I inches long was 

 examined in Lancashire : the fish were all taken in less than 10 

 fathoms. Forty-six of the stomachs contained food, in twenty- 



