82 THE LIFE OF THE SALMON 
rivers in which they were marked represent only 
8% per cent. It is remarkable in this connection 
that although a great number of fish have been 
marked in the Tay (of which eighty-six have been 
recaptured), no Tay fish has been recaptured either 
in another river or in coast nets. The great volume 
of water—reputed the largest in the British Islands 
—may make itself felt for avery considerable distance 
seawards, and so give a guide to Tay fish in the sea, 
Certainly to any one who has sailed much off the 
coasts of Fife and Forfar the influence of the Tay 
when swollen and discoloured by flood is very clearly 
seen, stretching as it often does in a great belt of 
discoloured brackish water in a southerly and easterly 
direction beyond the limits of St. Andrews Bay out 
into the open sea. 
It is of some interest to notice the direction in 
which the Scottish fish caught in sea nets at some 
distance from the rivers in which they were marked 
chiefly travel. The Grimersta-Castletown fish, cross- 
ing the Minch and travelling the whole length of 
the Pentland Firth in an easterly direction, has 
already been referred to. Six Helmsdale fish 
travelled south and have been caught at Portma- 
homack, on the coast south of Tarbat Ness. Three 
Helmsdale fish went into the Brora, and one north to 
Dunbeath ; another north to the river Halladale. A 
Brora fish also went north 100 miles, and was caught 
in a bag-net near the mouth of the Halladale. The 
contrast in the increase of weight in these two other- 
wise similar records is very remarkable. The Brora 
fish increased 54% lb. in eighty-eight days, while the 
