60 Natural-Historical Collections, 



species allied to it, which frequent our rivers in almost equal numbers, that we 

 can hope to devise or accomplish any means of increasing the production, or of 

 decreasing the certainly too extensive destruction of it in its different states. 



The Queries relate only to its natural history, and answers are requested, 

 stating facts relative to the opinions given, with the suggestion of additional 

 Queries, or any thing that will tend to illustrate the history of the species. 



Address the Answers to Sir W. Jakdine, Jardine-HaU, by Lockerbie, 

 Dum&ies-shire, or to the Editors of this Journal. 



Salmon. — 1. At what age do salmon commence spawning ? and how often 

 is it supposed that they have migrated to and from the sea, previous to their first 

 parting with the spawn ? 



2. Do the males and females attain maturity at the same period or age ? and 

 do all of one age spawn nearly at the same season ? 



3. At what time do the young, or Fry, first leave the rivers ? 



4. When do the young, or Fry, first return to the rivers ? 



5. "What is the size, weight, and appearance of the Fry, on their first return 

 from the sea, and under what denomination do they then go ? v 



6. Are they so far arrived at maturity as to spawn, and be productive, on their 

 first return from the sea, or previous to a second migration ? 



7. Are axiy fish known to shed their spawn abortively, before they arrive at 

 their fuD growth or maturity ? or is the spawn observable in young fish, retained, 

 until the parents attain the ordinary growth and size of the species when it is 

 known to be productive ? 



Grilse.— 8. Are Grilses immature Salmon, and if they are, what is their 

 age? 



9. What is the distinctive character between a large Grilse and a small SaU 

 mon ? 



10. At what season do Grilses first appear in the rivers ? What is theit 

 weight ? and are they supposed to be the Fry of the same year, on their first re- 

 turn from the sea ? 



11. Have the Fry been marked, and afterwards taken as Grilses in the course 

 of the same year, and have Grilses been marked, and afterwards taken as full 

 grown Salmon ? 



12. Is it supposed that any sexual intercourse takes place between the Salmon 

 and other species of the genus, thereby producing a mongrel or mixed breed of 

 fish ? 



Whitling and Sea-Trout 13. Does the Whitling of the Tweed ever 



become a Salmon — if not, to what size and weight does it attain ? 



14. Is the Whitling of the Tweed known by any other name in its various 

 stages of growth ? Does it spawn, and at what season ? What are its migrations ? 



15. Is the Sea-Trout of some other rivers the same with the Whitling of the 

 Tweed ? Is it found in all rivers containing Salmon ? Does it spawn ? Is the 

 young, or Fry known — and what are its migrations ? 



Herling.*— 16. Is the Herling or Hirling of the Annan and Nith, and 

 the Whiting of the Esk in Cumberland, the same with the Finnock of the west 

 coast of Scotland, and the Sewin of the Welsh rivers ? 



17- Is the Herling found in the rivers on the eastern coast of Scotland, or in 

 any of the rivers in England or Ireland, and under what name or names is it 

 there known ? 



1 8. Does the Herling spawn, and at what season ? and is it known in any in- 

 termediate state between the Fry and Herling ? Is the Fry known, and what ar^ 

 its migrations ? 



Bull-Trout 19. Is the Bull-Trout of the Tweed the same with the 



* The Herling seems to be the Salmo Aldus of Dr. Fleming's " British An. 

 nals," and most Ichthyologists — this species has not been thoroughly inves- 

 tigated. • ' 



