'57 



the west coast, though on the same latitude, not till May 

 or June. The explanation suggested by Mr. Archibald 

 Young, Fishery Inspector for Scotland, seems to me 

 correct, founded on the relative temperatures of the sea 

 and of those rivers. The sea on the west coast is from two 

 to three degrees warmer than on the east coast. On 

 the other hand, the rivers flowing eastward into the 

 German Ocean, lose their winter temperature, before 

 reaching the sea, more rapidly than the rivers flowing 

 by a shorter course towards the west ; because the snow- 

 clad mountains, from which both sets of rivers flow, are 

 nearer the west coast than the east coast, and therefore 

 the west-flowing rivers are, at their mouths, colder than 

 the east-flowing rivers at their mouths. The fish may 

 therefore seek to get out of the cold sea-water on the 

 east coast, by at once entering the rivers flowing there 

 into that sea ; whereas on the west coast, the fish may 

 incline to remain in the warmer sea-water there, until the 

 temperature of the rivers has risen, after the snow .has 

 melted. 



This solution of the problem, being one of a meteoro- 

 logical character, is now being tested by thermometers, 

 which His Grace the Duke of Sutherland has kindly 

 caused to be placed and observed in the Sutherlandshire 

 rivers. 



A question occurs on Tweedside, regarding the spawned 

 and spent fish, called " kelts" which are often so emaciated' 

 that the clause in our Act of Parliament forbidding the 

 capture of "foul, unclean, and unseasonable " fish, has 

 been held to apply to them. Sometimes, however, these 

 kelts become, before reaching the sea, so improved in 

 condition, that they are considered wholesome as food, 

 and, being improved in appearance, are, when taken in 



