Holt — Survey of Fkhing Grounds, West Coast of Ireland. 447 



COMMON DAB — Pleicronectes limanda. 



Of 1674 Dabs caught, 1575 -were measured, of which about 1190 were mature, and 

 about 380 immature.' It will be seen that whilst the immature forms are most 

 numerous in shallow water, even the smallest sizes extend into considerable depths 

 (20 fathoms), thus presenting, as Fulton remarks, a marked contrast to the small Plaice. 

 Fulton remarks that they appear to occur in patches, which is also my experience. I 

 think it probable that this adaptability of the young stages to such a wide vertical 

 distribution is one of the causes of the great abundance of this species. According 

 to Fulton it is by no means one of the most fecund of Flat-fishes (9th Ann. Eep. 

 S. F.B., 1891). 



FLOITNDEIi — Fleuronectes flesus. 



The very young Flounders frequent the margins of estuaries, or near the mouths of 

 small streams, and like the adults penetrate into perfectly fresh water. Very small 

 examples, less than an inch long, may be met with in the summer in rock pools, and 

 on fine calm days swimming at the surface at some little distance from land in St. 

 Andrew's Bay. It is only when mature that this species again ventures into compara- 

 tively deep and quite salt water. 



On the Survey no mature examples were captured at a less depth than 5 fathoms. 

 All immature examples were found in less than 5 fathoms. 



^ As some of the entries include fish between two sizes, as from 6 to 8 inches, it is 

 not possible to give the exact numbers of mature and immature. But the numbers, 

 given are probably sufficiently accurate. 



