212 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



One of these was captured in Station 3 ; four in Station 5 ; 

 seven in Station 8 ; four in Station 9 ; and one at the " mouth of 

 the Firth." 



Six of them were captured during the month of June, the others 

 in February (2), March (i), May (i), July (i), August (i), September 

 (2), October (i), and December (2). 



The few Sail Flukes captured during the eleven years of sys- 

 tematic trawling, conducted for experimental purposes by the 

 Fishery Board, conclusively proves that this fish is an uncommon 

 species in the Firth. 



SOLEA LUTEA (J?isS0). 



EAGLE CLARKE, "Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist.," 1900, p. 14. 



As additional information, it may be stated that single eggs of 

 the Solenette have on three occasions been taken in the Firth. 



One was obtained in Largo Bay by the "Garland" on the i6th 

 of March 1894 ("Rep. Fish. Board Scot.," 1893, part iii. p. 298); 

 one at the surface, at Station 6, on the i8th of April 1894 (t.c. p. 

 299) ; and one at the surface of the last-named station, on the 29th 

 of August 1895 (pp. cit. 1895, part iii. p. 226). 



SCOMBRESOX SAURUS ( Walbaum\ 



PARNELL, pp. 276-277. "According to Dr. Neill, it is not an un- 

 common fish in the Firth of Forth, . . . but of late years 

 not a single specimen has been observed in the Firth" (p. 277). 



This gregarious and migratory species appears, from the informa- 

 tion available, to be an uncertain visitor to the Firth. 



Since Parnell wrote there have been several remarkable influxes 

 of the Saury Pike to the waters of the estuary. 



Late in October and early in November 1855, vast numbers 

 appeared in the Firth, ascending the river to Alloa, and it is said 

 that millions of them were captured between that town and Kincar- 

 dine. They were also obtained in great numbers by the fisher-folk 

 at Musselburgh and Fisherrow, and on the igth of November a con- 

 siderable number were taken in the herring -nets off Queensferry 

 ("Proc. Roy. Phys. Soc. Edin.," vol. i. pp. 49-51). 



During the latter months of 1884 this fish was common in the 

 Firth. During this immigration Mr. William Evans saw a number 

 stranded at Kincardine on 23rd October, and received specimens 

 from Aberlady. 



CLUPEA PILCHARDUS, Walbaum. 



PARNELL, pp. 320-322. "A few are taken occasionally in the 

 summer months on the Berwick and Dunbar coasts, but since 

 the year 1876, no appearance of a Pilchard has been observed 

 in the Firth of Forth " (p. 321). 



