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the west coast, though on the same latitude, not till May 
or June. The explanation suggested by Mr. Archibald 
Young, Fishery Inspector for Scotland, seems to me 
correct, founded on the relative temperatures of the sea 
and of those rivers. The sea on the west coast,is from two 
to three degrees warmer than on the east coast. On 
the other hand, the rivers flowing eastward into the 
German Ocean, lose their winter temperature, before 
reaching the sea, more rapidly than the rivers flowing 
by a shorter course towards the west ; because the snow- 
clad mountains, from which both sets of rivers flow, are 
nearer the west coast than the east coast, and therefore 
the west-flowing rivers are, at’ their mouths, colder than 
the east-flowing rivers at their mouths. The fish may 
therefore seek to get out of the cold sea-water on the 
east coast, by at once entering the rivers flowing there 
into that sea; whereas on the west coast, the fish may 
incline to remain in the warmer sea-water there, until the 
temperature of the rivers has risen, after the snow has 
melted. 
This solution of the problem, being one of a meteoro- 
logical character, is now being tested by thermometers, 
which His Grace the Duke of Sutherland has kindly 
caused to be placed and observed in the Sutherlandshire 
rivers. 
A question occurs on Tweedside, regarding the spawned 
and spent fish, called “ £e/ts,” which are often so emaciated, 
that the clause in our Act of Parliament forbidding the 
capture of “fowl, unclean, and unseasonable”’ fish, has 
been held to apply to them. Sometimes, however, these 
kelts become, before reaching the sea, so improved in 
condition, that they are considered wholesome as food, 
and, being improved in appearance, are, when taken in 
