THE SPAWNING PERIOD 173 



It spent the winter of 1909-1910 in the sea, or rather, I believe, in the 

 estuarial waters of the Leven, without spawning, and also the winter 

 1910-igii in the sea without spawning. It spawned first in autumn 

 191 1, a second time in 191 2, a third time in 19 13 as we know, and a 

 fourth time in 19 14, as we also know. The evidence here, partly 

 direct and partly indirect, points to spawning in four consecutive years. 



4. In Fig. 58 is shown the scale of an old cock fish weighing 4I lb., 

 which was caught in Loch Lomond by my friend. Sir James Hayes- 

 Sadler, on August II, 1914. He very kindly gave me some scales 

 which Mr. Hutton has interpreted for me and one of which photo- 

 graphed by him is here reproduced. The scale indicates, I think 

 without question, that the fish spawned in five consecutive seasons, or 

 at least spawned in four and was on its way to spawn for the fifth time. 



5. In Fig. 59, as showing an extreme case, I am able through the 

 courtesy of Mr. Hutton, to submit the scale of a sea-trout which 

 weighed 11^ lb., caught by him in the river Osen, Norway. This scale 

 makes it fairly clear that the fish had spawned in seven consecutive 

 seasons. I reproduce a photograph (Fig. 60) of the fish itself as it is 

 a specially beautiful specimen of a large sea-trout. 



Taking now the whole series of 45 sets of scales of Loch Lomond 

 fish I find that 16 show evidence of repeated spawning thus : — 

 In 2 consecutive years ... ... 5 fish. 



In 3 „ „ 6 „ 



In 4 n ,> 3 » 



In 5 „ „ 2 „ 



Examining Mr. Hutton's sets of scales from other waters I find : — 



(i) In regard to 6 South Uist fish (Scotland) evidence of repeated 

 spawning in 2 instances, thus : — 



In 2 consecutive years ... ... 2 fish. 



(2) In regard to 17 Wye fish (England) evidence of repeated 

 spawning in 2 instances, thus : — 



In 3 consecutive years ... ... 2 fish. 



