The Scottish Naturalist 233 



observes that " specimens of 6*. fario frequently descend to the 

 sea, and assume a bright coloration, with numerous x- shaped 

 spots." The fishermen state that the common trout is some- 

 times caught in the salmon-nets on the beach at St. An- 

 drews, especially after a flood in the rivers. There is a parr 

 also in the Museum of the Literary and Antiquarian Society of 

 Perth, stated to have been taken from the stomach of a skate 

 ten miles beyond the Bell Rock. 



The question of hybrids need not be discussed at present, as 

 all assuming the migratory dress and going to the sea ought cer- 

 tainly to be included in the operation of the Act. 



There can be no question, therefore, as to the propriety of 

 preserving the "yellow fins," both in regard to existing legal 

 provisions, the welfare of the salmon fisheries, and the public. 

 Though, perhaps, not more than 1,200 young, salmon-trout are 

 caught annually in the Allan- water, this alone is a very serious 

 withdrawal of valuable food from the community. The " yellow 

 fin" weighs on an average from 2 to 2^ ounces, and is of 

 little value for culinary purposes ; whereas, the next year 

 (having in the meantime visited its native waters as a whitlifig*) 

 it returns a fine salmon-trout of 2 lbs. and upwards. When 

 the migratory dress is assumed, there can be neither doubt nor 

 difficulty : all such ought to be returned to the river. It 

 is almost as easy to discriminate the migratory fish from 

 the ordinary " yellow " trout as to distinguish a young pheasant 

 from a partridge ; and in these times, especially after the 

 present proceedings, there is not much room for confusion. 

 In the case of those specimens which remain in the streams and 

 put off their silvery coating (a feature requiring further investiga- 

 tion), I daresay the law will not be too severe, though such fish 

 are said to be able to propagate young which migrate, as in the 

 parent-stock. 



' Since the Tay must harbour many of these young salmon- 

 trout, it perhaps might be well to devote some attention to them 

 by hatching ova from carefully-ascertained parents in a separate 

 compartment at Stormontfield, and minutely comparing their 

 development and subsequent history with the salmon. 



* It is called Lammasman subsequently on its way to the sea, according 

 to Dr. Parnell. 



