170 
Part III. — Eighth Annual Report 
Common Dab (Pleuronedes limanda). 
' Of the 2156 specimens of the common dab obtained, 332 were of adult 
size and 1824 were immature. The distribution of the young individuals 
of this species presents a curious contrast to that of the young of the long 
rough dab. Immature common dabs are found pretty generally distri- 
buted both in the in-shore and off-shore waters, and in depths to about 
twenty-five fathoms ; but they are proportionally more numerous in the 
territorial than in the extra-territorial waters. The average number per 
shot of the trawl was 23*5 within three miles from shore, and 14 6 in the 
waters beyond. The in-shore waters may therefore be said to be nurseries 
for this flat-fish — but not to the same exclusive extent as in the case of 
the plaice. The average number of immature individuals per shot was 
28*8 at distances under one mile from shore, and 18 '5 at distances of 
from one to three miles. The young were proportionally more numerous 
at distances between twelve and eighteen miles, where the average per shot 
was 39-0. Even on ground twenty-two miles from land they were relatively 
very numerous. In regard to depth, the distribution is pretty equal up to 
twenty-five fathoms. In deeper water immature specimens appear to be 
comparatively scarce, although a considerable number between two and 
three inches in length were taken on Smith Bank. 
Considerably more than half of the young dabs were under three inches 
in length, 348 of these being about or a little over one inch long. These 
very small specimens were got in deep as well as in shallow water, chiefly 
in May, February, and March ; and they appear to occur in patches or 
' nurseries.' In one haul in eighteen fathoms, four miles from shore, 
77 between one and two inches long were captured in May; and 
in another haul in March in fifteen fathoms, five miles from shore, 
97. On the other hand, in May, 83 were caught in one haul 
in water under four fathoms deep and less than a mile from shore. 
Eighteen specimens between two and three inches long were caught in 
June twenty-two miles from land. 
These facts as to the distribution of immature common dabs agree with 
what we know of their spawning habits, for this is one of the few fishes 
which spawns in territorial as well as in extra-territorial waters. The im- 
mature forms seem to be reared almost anywhere. 
Long Kough Dab {Hippoylossoides Umand aides). 
The number of long rough dabs obtained was 3202, of which 301 were 
of adult size and 2901 immature. The distribution of the young indi- 
viduals of this species differs much from that of the young of the common 
dab, and contrasts markedly with that of immature plaice. The great 
proportion of young long rough dabs are found in off-shore waters, 
an average of only 2 "8 per shot being caught within the three-mile 
limit, as against 45 '5 per shot beyond. There is a gradual increase in 
their numbers up to a distance of twelve miles from shore. Similarly, 
the greatest number was obtained in deep water (thirty to thirty-five 
fathoms). It was the only young flat-fish obtained in the deep water 
of the Moray Firth — fifty to fifty-five fathoms. 
Nearly eighty per cent, of the immature long rough dabs were under 
three inches in length, no less than 1501, or considerably over half of 
these obtained, being about two inches long; the greater number of the 
very small specimens were obtained in deep water in September, February, 
March, and April, scarcely any being from water of less depth than 
twelve fathoms, and the majority from water about twenty fathoms deep. 
