of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
283 
beyond the intervening membrane. No spine appears in front of the 
anal fin. Of thirteen examples captured in the pools on the 13th May, 
and ranging, as above stated, from 14 to 17 mm. in total length, the 
following condition of the dorsal and anal fins was found : — 
Dorsal 
Anal. 
Dorsal . 
Anal. 
75 
59 
69 
57 
72 
58 (17 mm.) 
68 
53 
72 
58 
67 
47 1 (injured) 
72 
57 
66 
56 
70 
58 
61 
56 (14 5 mm.) 
70 
57 
61 
55 (14 mm.) 
70 
56 
In all probability the majority are young plaice or young dabs, the 
normal number of the rays in the former, according to Day, being from 
66-77 for the dorsal and 50-57 for the anal. In the latter species there 
are from 65-78 in the dorsal and from 50-62 in the anal. It is interesting 
to note that the smallest forms have fewest rays, and it is possible that at 
this stage the fin-rays may increase, more especially in the dorsal, for a 
glance at the number in the anal shows that diminution in a few (those 
with 58 and 59) must occur, if the supposition that plaice are present is 
correct, since the normal number is about 57. 
These pleuronectids were not present in the pools before April, have 
apparently taken to the ground after the pelagic stage, and, moreover, 
must have sought the tidal margin. 
The history of the dab has been followed by various authors. In the 
Trawling Report of 1884 allusion is made to many small specimens, and, 
further, it was pointed out that a large proportion of immature dabs are 
found not only in shallow bays, like that of St Andrews, but at consider- 
able distances from land ; and thus a doubt was raised as to whether all 
the young forms had been reared inshore on a sandy beach. Similar 
observations have recently been made by Mr Cunningham at Plymouth. 
The latter author gives the following table as the result of his experience 
of the growth of the dab : — 
1st year, .... 2-6 inches. 
2nd „ 5-8 „ 
3rd „ . . . 7-10 „ 
Taking March, April, and May as the chief spawning months, it is 
found at St Ariolrews that many are only from 15 to 18 mm. the following 
January, many from 19 to 52 mm. in March, in April 1J inch, while 
in June many range from 1| to \\\ inch, which should carry them to 
the end of the first year. It is true that in April, along with the former, 
some reach 3| inches, but their age is uncertain, and so with those of a 
larger size in May and June. It would be remarkable if the dab' should 
frequently attain the length of 6 inches the first year, and further investi j 
gations are required on the subject. Those hitherto made at St Andrews do 
not make this clear. During the second year they probably range from 2 to 
6 or 7 inches, but on this point there is still need for accurate observations. 
In regard to the growth of the turbot, Mr Cunningham * is of opinion 
that those collected at the surface of Mevagissey Harbour by Mr Dunn, 
aud measuring l'O and 1*5 inch, were about one month old, while those of 
•6 and '8 inch ranged to three weeks. On the other hand, Mr Holt thinks 
that at 7*5 mm. the unknown sinistral pleuronectid is only about three 
weeks old, while at 10 mm. it will be not less than two months old, but 
this may pertain to a smaller species, such as the topknot. It is, at any 
rate, at variance with my experience to assign the age of one month to a 
turbot an inch long. 
* Jour. Marine Biol. Assoc., new series, ii., No. 2, p. 105. 
