220 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



fourth run is called salmon trout, or bull trout ; a strong, coarse-looking 

 fish, and rather dark in the scale. They are first seen in July, 4 to 10 

 pounds, and some are seen 16 pounds. 



The distinguishing marks are as follows: The salmon are known from 

 the grilse or trout by the tail, which is cresceut-shaped, and an oval scale, 

 even when seen 1£ pounds and up to 80 pounds. The grilse has a mack- 

 erel tail and a diamond-shaped scale, even when only 1£ pounds weight, 

 and continues up to 24 pounds. The - trout in general has an oblong 

 scale and square-cut tail, although the salmon-trout tail is nearer the 

 crescent shape. 



With every spring tide a fresh run ascends the river, but unless there 

 is a flood they fall back with the tide. The trout spawn first, then the 

 grilse, and then the salmon. The trout fry leave the river first, then 

 the salmon, and then the grilse. 



The migrations of summer and winter herring. — The fry of 

 the summer herring on the Forth leave the brackish water, where they 

 have been located all winter, about the month of April, reaching the 

 salmon nets near Queensferry in May, and Largo Bay in June. About 

 this time the old herring leave the deep sea, where they have been all 

 winter, returning to the coast, looking out for a place to spawn, and feed- 

 ing on the ova of the whitefish which spawn near the shore. The fry 

 meet them along the coast of Fife or Midlothian, and at this time the 

 young herring, being about 6 to 8 inches long, take what is called the 

 dandy-hook. This is a clear hook without any bait on it. From the 

 appearance of sea-fowl the sea appears to be full of them for 20 miles, 

 and well over it. About this time the fishermen try their narrow-meshed 

 nets, and capture a large quantity, but they are unfit for curing. Then 

 towards the end of the month wider nets are adopted, and large quan- 

 tities of the old or last year's herring are captured. But as too often is 

 the case, the fish, not having gathered into a concise body, get fright- 

 ened at so many nets, leave the shore, and go out to sea. Then when the 

 fishermen cannot obtain a good capture near the coast they follow the 

 sea-fowl out to sea, and as the nets increase they drive the herring far- 

 ther and farther out to sea,- 20, 30, and often 40 miles, causing a great- 

 loss of time and much risk to the fishermen. 



This goes on all July and August, and the fish getting ripe are obliged 

 to spawn in mid ocean, and often on so bad ground that fully one-half 

 of the ova is lost. It may happen that a storm sets in and continues a 

 few days, when, few nets being set, the herring seek to get near the 

 laud. The fishermen not anticipating such a movement do not use their 

 nets, and therefore a large quantity get near the coast and spawn. But, 

 as too often is the case, some old fishermen, from the experience of for- 

 mer seasons, and by observing the sea-fowls, discover the herring on the 

 spawning-ground, shoot their nets and anchor them over the herring. 

 Then if the herring are strong they lift the nets to the"surface. The nets 

 are full of herring, and it has often been seen that from eighty to one 



