STORMONTFIELD EXPERIMENT. 69 



the proprietors object to the small sum about 

 50 that is required annually to keep up the 

 present establishment. 



FOUKTH SPAWNING, 1857. 



On the 12th of November this year, 1857, the 

 artificial spawning of the salmon commenced, and 

 finished on the 2d of December, during which 

 time 15 salmon and 14 grilse were spawned, 

 giving about 150,000 ova. Besides, in his re- 

 port to the proprietors, Mr Buist states " that 89 

 salmon and 78 grilse were landed in the net, but 

 not being fully ripe, were, with the greatest care, 

 returned to the river, after being marked with 

 copper wire. None of the fish seemed to suffer 

 in the least, and all went away in a very lively 

 state."* Peter Marshall manipulated, and 188 

 boxes were filled. Mr Shaw of Drumlanrigg 

 had already stated that he had successfully ex- 

 perimented with the milt of the male parr shed 

 on the ova of the female salmon, and this sea- 

 son it was resolved that this experiment should 

 be repeated. A female salmon, of about 20 



* The only one reported as retaken with this mark was a salmon, 

 13 J Ibs., caught in Largo Bay, on the 6th of September, 1858, the wire 

 of which was sent to me. 



