446 



Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



doubt that if observations could be systematically carried out throughout the year, -we 

 should find a considerable migration seawards of the larger fish towards the spawning 

 season. The very young fish, which here, as on the East coast of Scotland, inhabit 

 the sandy margins, are, in the absence of any shrimping industry, in no way molested 

 by man. Post-larval examples were frequent in shallow water, J to 9 fathoms, in 



April and May. 



IjEMON dab. — Fleuronectes microcepJialus. 



Only four examples below 8 inches were obtained. Of these one is a ripe male, 7|- 

 inches, and the others are less than 2 inches, and were taken in 62 to 52 and 80 fathoms. 

 Fulton found his smallest specimens, 2 inches, in about 20 fathoms, and others of 4 J 

 inches at about the same depth on the Smith Bank. Thus, the life history of this species 

 seems to be similar to that of the Long Eough Dab, the earliest stages being passed in 

 deep water, and the fish gradually approaching the shore as development proceeds. The 

 Lemon Dab, however, penetrates into much shoaler water than the Long Eough Dab 

 appears to do on this coast. Giinther has recorded specimens from 40 to 60 fathoms^ 

 and both mature and immature from 30 to 35 on the north-west coast of Scotland. 



POLE DAB — Fleuronectes cynoglossus. 



The youngest stages are evidently passed in deep, or rather deep, water, the fish 

 only penetrating into comparatively shallow water when of considerable size. Fulton 

 obtained two immature specimens at 20 fathoms. The species is known to reach 

 depth of over 700 fathoms. 



