STOKMONTFIELD EXPERIMENT. 67 



hole through the gill- cover, and a piece of the 

 dead fin cut off. Does it answer any of your 

 Tay marks V This tacksman evidently did not 

 know what was this year's mark; and, as he has 

 described it correctly, there can be little doubt 

 of it being one of the marked smoults of this 

 year. In this instance, the hole had only partially 

 closed up. In addition, a number of grilse bear- 

 ing the mark were caught and sent to the super- 

 intendent, but in every instance the mark in the 

 gill-cover was filled up. The want of the adipose 

 fin called the attention of the fishermen to the 

 fish, and, when closely examined, the excision, 

 although covered over, was plainly discernible. 

 On the 28th of July a fine grilse, weighing 7 Ibs., 

 was caught at Tappie station one of Lord. Gray's 

 fishings which was at once recognised by the 

 fishermen as a pond-marked fish. Mr Buist sent 

 it to Sir William Jardine, who stated that he was 

 quite satisfied that it was a pond fish of this year's 

 marking, but he regretted the filling-up of the 

 mark made in the gill, as the fish would have 

 been more easily recognised had the mark not 

 closed up. At Sir William's suggestion a number 

 of smoults were marked by the same instrument 

 as those that were turned into the river and put 



