The Yertebkates of Solway. 29 



tities and huge size that once arrived there in the winter months. 

 Up to 1855 and 1856 their visits were annual, but after that they 

 gradually dwindled away. Now, as a rule, only codlings are 

 caught, and the large, mature fish very seldom indeed. 



The Roach {Leuciscus ruti/us, L.). 

 Within the last half-dozen of years, Roach have been found 

 plentifully in the Carg-en water. Probably they originated from 

 an introduction to the Terregles ponds. The species is at best 

 very local in its distribution, and any extension is of considerable 

 note. 



The Minnow {Leuciscus phoximns, L.). 



The Minnow was introduced into Glasserton pai-ish, in Wig- 

 townshire, according to a note by Sir Herbert Maxwell in tlie 

 Annals of Scot. Nat. Hist., "some years previous" to 1892. It 

 does not exist anywhere else in Galloway west of the Cree. 



The Salmon {Salmo salar, L.). 



Salmon are enormously less in the Solway rivers than 

 formerly. Both in the rivers and in the estuaries, the early, or 

 spring, fish (should these not rather be termed the "latest" fish 

 of the previous year's run?) are almost of rare occurrence now 

 when compared with a period of half a century ago. I believe 

 firmly that as much salmon reaches the public as ever, but whereas 

 the captures in the rivers have decreased greatly, the salt water 

 catches have gone up corresponding-ly. The Solway rivers are 

 naturally late waters, and their tendency has been for many years 

 past to become later as time goes on. The process is a slow one. 

 Whether the change is climatic, or is caused by the constant 

 annual taking of the earlier runs, can hardly be said to be decided. 

 Like many other observers, 1 am of opinion that it is to lie 

 attributed to the latter cause. 



The Smelt {Osrnems eperlanus, L.). 



Hardly knoAvn as fresli water fish nowadays in at least the 

 Esk, Annan, Nith, and Urr. They have greatly decreased, also,. 

 in the estuaries. I have been favoured by Mr Hugh Kerr, Dal- 

 beattie, with the loan of an old accoimt book kept by his grand- 

 father, when tenant of the Munches fishings in the River Urr. 

 In 1840 no less than 1800 lbs. of "Spirlings" were taken from 



