Report of Experimental Committee, 431 



The appended Schedule gives the particulars of each case : — 



1. It will be observed that a Blacktail marked in October, 



1871, and recaptured in September, 1872, as a Whit- 

 ling, increased in weight 3oz., and in length 2£ 

 inches in 332 days. 



2. A Blacktail marked in October, 1872, and recaptured 



as a Whitling, in July, 1873, increased in weight 

 14oz., and in length 3£ inches in 277 days. 



3. A Blacktail marked in September, 1872, and recaptured 



as a Bull Trout, in July, 1873, in the river Dee, two 



miles from Aberdeen, doubled its weight (18oz), and 



increased in length 3 inches in 302 days. 



These instances support the theory that Whitling and Bull 



Trout are different varieties or species of the Salmon kind, and 



that the name of Blacktail is descriptive of the earlier stage of 



both ; or, it may be, that the term of Whitling and Bull Trout 



are really synonymous, the individual fish differing in greater or 



less degree. 



The remark made in last report that Blacktails, recaptured up 

 to April inclusive are found to have generally decreased in weight, 

 or, at any rate, to have remained stationary, is corroborated by 

 the experience of the past year. Of those marked in September 

 and October, 1872, two were recaptured in February, one in 

 March, and two in April, having been respectively 130, 134, 

 144, 175, and 190 days between the marking and recapture — the 

 loss in weight being, in the several instances, 3oz„ 4oz., 5oz., 

 6oz., and 5£oz. In length there was scarcely any variation. 

 Those recaptured at a later period (with the exception of one 

 caught in June, injured in the back-bone) — that is to say, in the 

 months of July and September — had gained, as has already been 

 shewn : — 



Weight. Inch. 



(1) in 332 days, 3oz., and 2£, and become a Whitling, on Sept. 9, 



(2) in 277 „ 14oz„ „ 3£, do. do. July 14- 



(3) in 302 „ 18oz., „ 3 do. Bull Trout, July 18. 



(Signed) E. H. HUNTLEY, 



Chairman. 

 26th August, 1873. 



2 c 



