324 Scientific Intelligence. 
him to consider the scales as being most frequently the result of the union 
of two different organs ; that is to say, of the bract and the scaly organ, 
which are distinct and separate only in a small number of genera. He 
concludes that in the cases of Abietinee and Cupressinez there are always 
bracts, which are either free or united with the scaly organ which is in 
their axil; and the scale is most frequently formed of the bract and the 
scaly organ united, the extent of union varying in different genera; and 
hence arise the different forms of cones which the Conifere present. It 
is probable that the scales of the cones of Cycadacez result also, in some 
genera at least, from a union of the bract and the scaly organ, and this 
view is confirmed by the occurrence of two points in the form of horns at 
the end of the scales in the genus Ceratozania. A similar view in re- 
gard to the bracts and scales'of Coniferee has been already advocated by 
Dr Alexander Dickson of Edinburgh in papers published in this Journal. 
ZOOLOGY. 
Salmon.—Report to the Tweed Commissioners, 2d and 3d September 
1861.—‘‘ In consequence of powers granted to me at the general meeting 
of last year, I beg to lay before you the following Report :— — 
“Ist, In regard to the ‘ blacktail,’ I have to report that, owing to 
the continuous floods in the river after the lst of October 1860, the small 
nets would not work; consequently I was only enabled to mark 108 of 
these fish, none of which, so far as I can ascertain, have been recaptured. 
Upon the 16th March 1861, I received a letter from Mr John Weather- 
ston of Horncliffe, enclosing a copper wire (which I produce) taken from 
the nose of a whitling caught near that village on that date; weight 14 
or 2lbs. I identify this wire as one of sixty-six used in marking the 
‘blacktail’ on the 14th and 19th of October 1859. When marked, these 
fish were from 8 to 12 ounces in weight, thus showing, from that and 
former experiments, that at all events this species (so far as the River 
Tweed is concerned) takes a longer time of arriving at maturity than has 
hitherto been generally imagined. 
“2d, As to the condition, quality, and number of fish landed after the 
14th September 1860, when the annual close time for nets commences, I 
have to report that, at different periods, comprising the Ist October, 5th 
and 21st of November, there were landed, under my superintendence, 
21 salmon, 15 grilse, and 375 trout, making a total of 411. The weight 
of these fish would average respectively 17 lbs., 73 lbs., and 53 Ibs. each ; 
and the whole, with a few exceptions, were in first-class condition, more 
like spring than autumn fish. I wish particularly to draw attention to our 
proceedings upon the Ist of October 1861. Upon that day, when upon 
one of my farms adjoining the banks of the river, I discovered that the 
river was flooded, upon which I mustered a boat’s crew, and commenced 
operations at Scotch Newwater. In a short space of time we landed 
15 salmon, 8 grilse, and 73 trout. These fish were captured upon 
the ford, when they were coming from the sea with the run of the 
tide. In the evening I was again upon the river side, when I saw 
not hundreds but thousands of splendid fish going back to the sea. 
This I attribute to the flood being from the River Till ; and the tide 
fish meeting this flood, they turned at Norham, and brought those lying 
in the river with them. In consequence of this, immense numbers were 
congregated at the mouth and within the statutory limits of the river, 
and hence commenced the active, diligent, and lucrative proceedings of 
the poachers. Before leaving this subject I may mention, that, upon the 
21st November, the day was dreadfully wet and cold ; and the men having 
commenced work before daylight, and being completely soaked and in a 
state of starvation, I killed a ‘ bull trout,’ 14 lbs. weight, and cooked it 
