12 
A very general impression among naturalists is that the plaice 
is only in-shore in its young condition, and that the larger 
specimens are almost completely confined to off-shore grounds, 
that when the larger ones come in-shore they are more or less 
diseased ; hut the results we have obtained during these two seasons 
show that for our coast such a statement is not true. Very large 
plaice occur in relatively large numbers,' and in a perfectly healthy 
condition. Whether this result is to be correlated with the very 
encouraging improvement in the numbers of the saleable fish 
observed during these two seasons has still to he shown, but we are 
justified in saying, at any rate, that as far as plaice, soles, turbot 
and brill are concerned, we receive in these in-shore waters a return 
of fish which have spawned off-shore. I do not mean to say that ali 
plaice, for instance, that go out to spawn, return, or would return ; 
experiments made by marking fish showing that they often find 
their way to a considerable distance. Moreover, these larger fish 
will draw oft' when the rougher, colder weather sets in, hut that they 
do come into protected waters even for a season is a matter of 
great importance. 
A large number of fish were again measured and examined as to 
food and the condition of the generative organs, hut it is not 
necessary to give the results in detail. 
Plaice were measured from 11 inches to 25 inches in length, 
the most mature being found from 1 5 inches onwards, and were 
found to he feeding, as last year, on Donux truncal us and Tel Hun tenuis, 
but the latter were more commonly got than last year. The food 
observed in three of the specimens was (1) a great quantity of 
Amphipods, 1 2) a piece of Solen and (8) Annelids . 
Dabs (9 inches to 12-^ inches) were often got immature, or 
apparently so, up to 12 inches, and were feeding, as last season, on 
Fortunus holsatus. Solen was observed in several cases, Annelids 
were present in a few, and a large Tdotea tricuspidata was found in 
the intestine of one which had afterwards partaken of a F. holsatus. 
Flounders (10 inches to 18^ inches) were feeding principally on 
Tellina tenuis. On the same day as that found in the case of one 
plaice, three flounders examined had similarly fed on a large 
quantity of Amphipods, evidently taken from macerated wood. 
Turbot (12£ inches to 22| inches) included forms with eggs 
visible, of 18, 14£, 16, 21 inches, &c., but again immature females 
were got— 1 have called them immature in such cases that I could 
