30 
MIGRATIONS OF INSHORE FLAT FISH. 
During the past season, owing to the short visits paid to the 
stations, the work of marking fish was temporarily suspended. 
Two turbot measuring 21 cm. and 22 cm. were liberated at Druridge 
Bay on September 16tli, 1908 (Nos. N. 301, 303). 
In table VIII. some further interesting recaptures of fish marked 
in 1905, 1906, and 1907 are recorded. Most remarkable are the two 
turbot, both liberated in 1905, and recaptured one last year and the 
other this year, after an absence of nearly three and four years 
respectively. The former was found 110 miles east by north of the 
place of liberation, and the latter 75 miles south. 
The increment of growth of the former was 13-9 cm. (5J ini'), 
and of the latter, 21 cm. (8J in.). From the consideration of the j 
growth of this species in the report for 1905, page 62, it may be 
concluded that the 27 mm. fish was three years old when it was . 
marked, and increased during the three years it was at liberty to ! 
40-9 cm. when it was just six years old. The curve between these i 
points lies parallel to the curve already determined, and the size 
given may therefore be assumed to state the measurement of a male 
turbot of that age. The other specimen at 31 cm. was four years 
old and after nearly four years of liberty was 52 cm. at eight years 
of age. This was a female, and the rate of growth is greater 
therefore for the female. The records materially add to the con- 
clusion which has for some time been apparent that the large 
specimens of the common food fish are by no means young. 
Many of the recaptured flounders recorded here were again sent 
from the coast of Fife. One, however, a female, was caught off 
Hartlepool, as far to the south of the place of liberation as Fife is to 
the north. In 1906 a male was obtained off the Yorkshire coast, 
and thus the general northerly migration of this species is not 
without exception. 
A flounder was reported to have been captured at Holy Island 
about May 3rd, 1908, but the fish and the label were lost. Another 
flounder, which was returned without the numbered part of the 
label, was a female measuring 29 cm. and w r as caught on Blyth 
Sands 26th June, 1908. 
For the records of the recaptures acknowledgments are again 
heartily tendered to fishermen, and especially to the Directors of 
the Lowestoft and the Dundee Fisheries Laboratories. 
