RV Platessa tagged plaice were released off the Cumberland coast, using the RV "Platessa" during 1949 and 1950. In August 1951 echo-sounder traces were obtained over a wide area off Whitby by the RV 'Platessa', using a Marconi sounder. They were found to occur at a depth corresponding to that of a sharp thermocline, and small whiting about 3 in. in length, large Medusae, herring and sandeel larvæ were caught with a pelagic trawl at the depth of the trace. This work was reported in a ‘letter’ to the journal Nature in 1952. In 1950 the RV "Platessa" was involved in comparative
Pacific sanddab Pacific sanddab The Pacific sanddab ("Citharichthys sordidus") is a species of flatfish. It is by far the most common sanddab, and it shares its habitat with the longfin sanddab ("C. xanthostigma") and the speckled sanddab ("C. stigmaeus"). It is a medium-sized flatfish, with a light brown color mottled brown or black, occasionally with white or orange spots. The Pacific sanddab is endemic to the northern Pacific Ocean, from the Sea of Japan to the coast of California. They are most commonly found at depths of , though the young inhabit shallower waters, occasionally moving into tide pools. It is an