264 
Part III. — Ninth Annual Report 
Much larger female plaice than those referred to in the table are 
obtained, but the average number of eggs produced by each female 
plaice may be stated as from 300,000 to 350,000. The plaice is not, 
therefore, relatively speaking, a very fertile fish. 
Lemon Sole {Pletironectes microcephalus). 
Two specimens were examined, both caught on 29th May off the Firth 
of Forth. The details are as follows : — 
Length of 
Fish 
(in inches). 
Weight 
of 
Fish. 
Weight of 
Ovaries 
(in grains). 
Weight of 
part taken 
(in grains). 
Number of 
Ova 
counted. 
Total 
Number 
of Ova 
in Ovaries. 
1 
15 
21 lbs. 
1960 
10 
3450 
672,200 
Large, 410 
19,188 
2 
12^ 
15| 07.. 
468 
10 1 
Small, 2800 
131,040 
3210 
150,228 
In the first specimen the largest ova measured 0*76 mm., and from 
this size they graduated down to 0'16 mm. In the second specimen 
clear ripe ova were present (1'15 to 1*2 mm), and there were a few inter- 
mediate between these and the general run of the large opaque (0*72 mm.) ; 
f^om the latter occurred a graduated series down to 0'06 mm. 
Witch Sole or Craig Fluke {Pleuronectes cynoglossus). 
Three specimens of this fish were examined, all caught east of May 
Island, one on 22nd Ma}^, one on 1st June, and one on 5th June. The 
particulars are as follows : — 
Lenth of 
Fish 
(in inches). 
Weight 
of 
Fish. 
Weight of 
Ovaries 
(in grains). 
Weight of 
part taken 
(in grains. ) 
Number of 
ova 
counted. 
Total 
Number 
of Ova 
in Ovaries 
Large, 70 
16,079 
1 
20i 
2 lbs. 1i oz. 
2297 
Small, 3170 
728,149 
3240 
744,228 
2 
18i 
1 lb. 11 oz. 
1172 
10 
4040 
473,488 
Large, 76 
17,753 
3 
9 
2 lbs. 
2336 
.Small, 3704 
865,254 
3780 
883,254 
In the first and third specimens there were a few fully developed 
hyaline ova present; in the second none were observed. In all speci- 
mens the upper ovary was heavier than the lower, in the first by more 
than an ounce. The ovaries were long and slender (twelve inches in the 
first and nine inches in the second specimen), and they occasioned exceed- 
ingly little tumidity of the surface of the fish — very different from the 
condition in the plaice or flounder. The colour of the ovaries was pale 
fawn or cream ; on slitting them open, they appeared creamy white, in 
the first and third specimens a clear dot here and there, showing the 
