204 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Ness and Loch Oich fish are dark, and have stayed for the 

 better part of winter in the big resting-pools of Loch Ness 

 and Loch Oich, but run in February and March and into 

 April, along with the 16 Ib. fish which have run clean, from 

 the tide up and into the Garry. 



I must again have expressed myself badly if I gave the 

 impression that I identified the large Loch Tay Salmon with 

 the " Grey Schule " of Tweed. I only desired to compare the 

 seasons of the two runs, and the apparent sizes and ages (?) 

 of the two classes of fish in two different descriptions of 

 river ; and if in such a point I am again wrong, I desire to 

 be put right. I confess I may have caused some confusion 

 here. 



Now, I try to accentuate the two classes of rivers, viz. 

 those with large reservoirs along their courses or at their 

 upper extremities, such as the Tay, and those with none, 

 or with insufficient reservoirs or lochs along their courses, 

 such as Tweed, Don, and Deveron. I know nothing as to 

 the capabilities of the Cree and Minnick in these respects. 

 Sir Herbert does not say that there are any such reservoirs 

 near the sources, and only mentions the lower sluggish 

 reaches near the estuary, and the long estuary itself; and 

 speaks of the shallow, or narrow, or small volume of one 

 reach of the Minnick holding 120 fish which had come up 

 in April and May. But I would feel surprised if the Cree 

 is found to hold deep resting-pools along its upper courses 

 that the red fish mentioned by Sir Herbert as caught in 

 the estuary in July would in such a case have returned 

 voluntarily to the sea before spawning. In this case I would 

 be inclined to judge that the Cree might be improved by the 

 addition of artificial resting-places. I grant this is partly 

 hypothesis, but it may prove a suggestion not to be thrown 

 aside -- though not to be entered upon either- - without 

 consideration. 



Where a few fish are known to go clown to the sea, it 

 may be possibly accounted for by saying they are barren 

 fish, or fish which have not obtained mates when in fresh 

 water, and for which there is no call to remain in discomfort ; 

 or wounded fish which fight for a female and lose in the 

 battle, as many male fish are seen to do. But for a whole 



