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Part III. — Eighth Annual Report 
was due to the presence of a vast shoal of them in the Firth of Forth in 
the autumn of 1889 (see p. 175). 
I have been at pains to tabulate, in Tables V. and VI., the proportions 
of immature flat fish and round lish found at various depths and at 
various distances from shore. The results are of much interest and in 
some ways surprising. Considering, first, all the immature lish, of what- 
ever species, it will be seen that the largest proportion was obtained at a 
distance of from 3 to 6 miles from shore (496 per shot), and the next 
largest proportion at a distance of from 6 to 12 miles (482 per shot). 
Within a distance of 1 mile from shore the proportion was only 87 '4 
per shot; from 12 to 18 miles the immature fish averaged 90*6 per shot ; 
and at 22 miles only 16*0. It therefore appears that, while immature 
fish are found at considerable distances from the shore, they chieliy 
frequent a zone just beyond the three-mile limit. Within the three-mile 
limit the average number caught per shot was 141*7, while beyond the 
three-mile limit it was as much as 447. It must be remembered that 
these figures deal mainly with the Firth of Forth. The abundance of 
immature specimens at any given distance from shore varies also with the 
depth, and especially with the kind of fish. In Table VI. the average 
per shot in different depths is shown. The greatest proportion were 
obtained from water between twenty-five and thirty fathoms deep. Both 
in shallow water and in deep water the relative amounts were less. 
Flat-Fish. 
The total number of flat-fish caught in the special net was 6897, 
of which 5979 were immature and 918 of adult size. Immature fiat-iish 
were found both near the shore and at all distances examined (up to 22 
miles). They were also found in shallow water and in water 53 fathoms 
in depth, although in very different proportions. If we consider, first, the 
proportional abundance of young flat-fish, according to the distance from 
shore, it will be found (Table V.) that the largest number were obtained 
between six and twelve miles off, but they consisted chiefly of the com- 
moner and less valuable kinds, namely, common dabs and, especially, long 
rough dabs. The average abundance in the territorial waters was also 
great, but in this case it was due to the presence of young plaice and 
common dabs. Immature flat-fish are rather more abundant beyond than 
within the three-mile limit, owing to the greater number of long 
rough dabs. 
Having made these general observations, I shall now describe in detail 
the distribution of the young of the different kinds. 
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa). 
Of 1237 plaice captured 1118 were immature. The distribution of 
immature plaice is very regular by far the largest number being got near 
the shore, and fewer and fewer the further from the shore. As a rule, 
except in certain localities in the neighbourhood of their spawning grounds, 
few very large plaice are got in territorial waters on the East Coast, and 
never in a ripe condition. They apparently never spawn within the terri- 
torial waters. Table V. shows how regularly the numbers of immature 
plaice increase as the shore is approached. At distances under one mile 
the average number per shot was 33*4; between one and three miles 
10*1; between three and six miles 2-9; between six and twelve miles 
1*6; and between twelve and eighteen miles 0'0. The average number 
per shot within the three-mile limit was 21*4, while it was only 
