128 THE SEA-TROUT 



supplement the natural spawning operations of the fish. In 1908, there 

 were turned out 87 yearling sea-trout which had been artificially hatched 

 and had subsequently been reared in a pond and artificially fed. 

 Before being liberated these fish were each marked in the dorsal fin 

 with a small piece of silver wire. " In the main river in 1910," writes 

 Mr. Nelson, " a sea-trout marked with silver wire was caught, which 

 could only be one of the 87 yearlings so marked in 1908." This is the 

 first sea-trout with, so to speak, a completely " artificial " record which 

 has apparently ever been recaptured on its return to the vicinity of its 

 birthplace. It is not with any intention of disparaging the valuable 

 outcome of Mr. Nelson's enterprise if I add that it is only the first 

 instance of a fish being so recaptured because probably it was the first 

 carefully conducted experiment of the kind. There need not now be 

 the slightest doubt that such a return of the whitling, as I had already 

 deduced from observation, constantly occurs under natural conditions. 

 Still following the fortunes of the ascending section of the shoal of 

 whitling I think it may be accepted that the whitling when they do run, 

 whether in numbers or not, never ascend a river very far.' They 

 certainly never push on to the limits of the furthest tributaries with the 

 perseverance which characterises the mature fish when seriously making 

 for the spawning redds. Failing direct proof, this fact alone might be 

 held sufficient evidence that the main body of whitling does not ascend 

 to fresh water for the purpose of spawning. Mr. Malloch tells us that 

 '■ The greater number prefer the tidal water, and in the Tay very few 

 are caught more than ten miles above this." Where a great lake like 

 Loch Lomond is within easy run of the sea the whitling scatter through- 

 out its extent, but they do not ascend the tributary streams in any 

 numbers. In any case these whitling whether in river or loch, and 

 whether they propose to spawn or not, intend to remain in fresh water 

 over the winter months. 



1. It is fair to state that a correspondent of " The Field " once referred to one instance of a 

 whitling being caught, in some river which he did not specify by name, 40 miles from the sea. 



