in the Scotch fisheries which seem deserving of atten- 

 tion, I venture to offer a few remarks for the consideration 

 of the Conference. 



I. FISH. 



There are several kinds of salmon in the Tweed. The 

 most common are the Salmo salar, or true salmon, and 

 the Salmo eriox, which last kind is known also by the 

 names of bull-trout, sea-trout, or whitling. But there are 

 hybrids which sometimes render identification difficult. 



The young of the true salmon, when first hatched, we 

 call a "parr" having dusky cross bars on its sides. 

 Hatched in December or January, these "parr " go slowly 

 down the river towards their ultimate destination, the sea. 

 But they do not venture into the sea till another skin of 

 glistening scales has been formed over their first skin. 

 They then receive the name of " smolts" If put into salt 

 water, before getting this silver dress, they die. It is only 

 a portion of the "parr " which go to sea during the first 

 year. The rest, being probably more weakly in constitu- 

 tion, remain in fresh water till the following spring, when, 

 if not devoured by natural enemies, they also put on a 

 silvery dress, and betake themselves to the ocean. 



The " smolts" after remaining in the sea for some 

 months, return to their native river, having grown to about 

 twelve inches in length, and weighing about half a pound 

 or more. They then go by the name of " black- tails" 

 having the tail and the dorsal back fin of a black colour. 

 They hover about the lower parts of the river, not going 

 far beyond the influence of the tide. Before winter they 

 return to the sea ; and in the following year they come 

 back to the river as grilse in June and July. For what 

 -purpose they come then is not yet known. When they 

 come in September and October, it is in most cases to 



