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
Rusty desert monitor cm. The colouration of this monitor lizard on the upper side is light to dark reddish-brown with numerous, irregularly distributed, black or deep-brown spots. Sometimes, smaller primrose or cream-colored spots are present. Its tail shows alternating cream-colored and deep-brown longitudinal stripes, which are often broken up into scattered spots at the tail base. A conspicuous black stripe occurs from the snout to the eye. This species spends its life on the ground and seldom climbs trees. No successful breeding in captivity has yet been reported. Stomach contents indicate the diet by volume of the rusty desert monitor consists mainly of