of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
265 
presence of a mature hyaline egg. The hyaline ova were from 1*2 to 
1-26 mm. in diameter; the others measured from 0*81 to 0-63 mm., 
reminding one of the condition in the ling, and very different from that 
in the whiting, gurnard, common dab, &c. From the absence of tumidity, 
and the comparative uniformity of size of the ova — showing approximately 
equal development — it is evident that the reproductive-pressure in the 
witch sole is not great ; in other words, it can easily carry all the ova 
necessary. 
Common Dab (Pleuronectes Umanda). 
In March and April several females were examined, but a large 
proportion of the ova were so small that enumeration was not attempted. 
Better developed examples were got towards the end of May. The three 
given in the table were caught in the Firth of Forth, the first on 
May 12 th, the other two on May 29th :— 
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. 
1 
8^ 
1531 grains. 
125 
*{ 
Large, 108 
Small, 4022 
3375 
125,437 
4130 
128,812 
2 
n 
895 grains. 
62 
'{ 
Large, 82 
Small, 3750 
3832 
1,694 
77,500 
79,194 
3 
8i 
1303 grains. 
97 
4 
4530 
109,852 
In ripe females of this species there is not very much tumidity of the 
surface from the presence of the ovaries, and these organs do not extend 
to nearly the root of the tail. In each of the specimens a few large 
hyaline ova were present (0'9 to 0*94 mm. in diameter). The sizes of the 
opaque immature ova varied from 0*54 to 0*06 mm., the great majority 
ranging between 0*54 and 0*4 mm. 
Flounder {Pleuronectes fiesus). 
The flounder is surprisingly fertile ; it is indeed, when its size is con- 
sidered, relatively the most fecund of all sea-fish. The three specimens 
examined were obtained by the ' Garland ' in the Forth at the end of 
February and in March. The particulars 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 
2 
3 
14| 
12| 
lOi 
1 lb. 9i oz. 
131 oz. 
11-93 oz. 
2894 
1481 
533 
40 
30 
5 
22,640 
14,415 
5,270 
1,638,004 
711,620 
561,782 
The ovaries in the fully ripe fish are very bulky, the ventral and dorsal 
surfaces are greatly distended, and the posterior end of the ovaries reach 
to the root of the tail. In two of the specimens the dorsal ovary was heavier 
