58 THE LIFE OF THE SALMON 



for the purpose of discovering primarily the range 

 of influence of the Sands river. The treatment of 

 the fisheries of this his own river had resulted in a 

 very distinct improvement,* and the marking of 

 salmon kelts was commenced, so that the movements . 

 of Sands fish could be followed. 



The mark now used in Scotland is only slightly 

 modified from the pattern originally used by Mr. 

 Archer. It consists of a small silver plate, which 

 bears upon it a distinguishing number, and a silver 

 wire soldered to the long axis of the back of the 

 plate, and also passed through the plate so that the 

 two ends of the short wire project at right angles 

 to the plate. The mark is commonly attached to 

 the fish by pushing the two wire points through the 

 base of the dorsal fin, so that the surface of the 

 plate bearing the number rests upon one side of the 

 fin and the points of wire project at the other. 

 The points are then twisted together — without 

 pressure upon the fin rays, if possible — and bent flat 

 to the side of the fin. At time of marking a note is 

 taken of the weight, length, sex, condition, date, 

 and place ; and at recapture the same particulars 

 are, if possible, secured, and the records com- 

 pared. 



The same system is now also adopted in Ireland, 

 where, however, a double plate is used, so that, if 

 necessary, the distinguishing number may be read 

 without the removal of the mark from the fish. 

 Both in Ireland and England the silver marks are 



* Eleventh and Twelfth Annual Reports, Fishery Board for 

 Scotland, Part II. 



