must be comparatively low. On the left hand side of figure 14 we 
have drawn curves to show the condition of the stock when the 
death rate amounts to 125% (one-eighth) of the total population 
per year and we have indicated in the thick lines the numbers of 
each year given in the table. The agreement is close enough to 
warrant us in concluding that the death rate in this part of the gulf 
of St. Lawrence is very nearly 123% per year, that is, only one- 
quarter of that in Passamaquoddy bay. It may be mentioned that 
in this case because the growth for the year had little more than 
begun we have made the ages less (by four months) than what they 
were, instead of greater as in the previous case. The absence of any 
fish under three years in age is accounted for by their very small 
size, due to slow growth, permitting them to escape through the 
meshes of the net. 
We have been able to study the ages of 77 plaice from Cheda- 
bucto bay, an intermediate region, which were examined in the 
shop of the Wm. Davies Company of Toronto. The numbers of 
the various ages that were found are as follows: 
("Age im years......... | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 [10 [it [12 |13 [14 15 |16 | 
Number of plaice... . .| 2112) 10 S10) (0701 4 110 } 4 | 31 44 1 | 
In this case also we have a rather gradual decrease in numbers 
with age, which means a low death rate. The early years are not 
represented, since plaice of those ages were too small to be marketed, 
and if caught were not sent in. The age is given as five months 
greater than it actually was. The rate of decrease in numbers with 
age is more rapid in this region than in the gulf of St. Lawrence and 
less rapid than in Passamaquoddy bay, and corresponds with a 
death rate of about 25% (one-fourth) of the total population per 
year, as we have shown in the middle of figure 14. The maximum 
age reached in this locality (16 years) is likewise intermediate 
between that for Passamaquoddy bay (6 years) and that for the 
gulf of St. Lawrence (24 years). 
Owing to the more rapid growth in the warmer water the differ- 
ences in maximum size reached by the plaice in these three regions 
are not so.great as would be expected from the differences in death 
rate, and are as follows—Passamaquoddy bay, 14 inches; Cheda- 
29 
