FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH AND ITS TRIBUTARIES 203 



a number of Dr. Parnell's rarer species recorded since the 

 year 1837, and thus to bring that author's account of them 

 down to date. 



I have again to acknowledge my indebtedness to the 

 Annual Reports of the Fishery Board for Scotland : especially 

 have the systematic monthly trawling experiments made by 

 the "Garland" during eleven years 1886-1897 added 

 much valuable information relating to the fishes of the Forth 

 and their distribution within the estuary at all seasons. 



For the purposes of these investigations the Fishery 

 Board established a number of stations in the Firth, and 

 these were visited monthly, and complete records kept of the 

 fishes captured, by means of the trawl, at each of them. 



As frequent allusion will be made to these stations, 

 it will be advantageous to particularise them here, giving 

 their situation, depth, and the nature of the bottom of each. 

 This will obviate much repetition under the various species. 



Station. 



1. East of Inchkeith: extending in a N.E. direction 4 miles. 



Depth: 10-1 8 fathoms. Bottom: chiefly mud. 



2. North Bay, off West Wemyss. Length: 3.5 miles. Depth: 



9-12 fathoms. Bottom: mud and stones; partly sand. 



3. East of Inchkeith. Length: 7 miles. Depth: 8- 10 fathoms. 



Bottom : mostly mud ; also shells and stones. 



4. South Bay, off Fisherrow and Aberlady. Length: 7.5 miles. 



Depth: 5-7 fathoms. Bottom: sand and shells. 



5. West of Isle of May. Length: 5 miles. Depth: 20-30 



fathoms. Bottom : mud. 



6. Off St. Monance and Pittenweem ("Fluke Hole"). Length: 



1.75 miles. Depth: 13-14 fathoms. Bottom: sand and 

 gravel. 



7. Between Bass Rock and Fidra. Length: 4.5 miles. Depth: 



11-14 fathoms. Bottom: sand, mud, and stones. 



8. South of Isle of May (east of Bass Rock in N.W. direction). 



Length: 5 miles. Depth: 20-30 fathoms. Bottom: sand 

 and mud. 



9. South-east of Isle of May. Length: 5.5 miles. Depth: 



29-32 fathoms. Bottom: sand, mud, and stones. 



The classification and nomenclature followed are those of 

 Day's "British and Irish Fishes" (1880-1884). I am aware 

 that these important features require modification and 

 correction ; but since this work remains our most recent 



