326 Scientific Intelligence. 
“ First, in regard to the Blacktail, I may mention that I cannot state 
the exact number marked in the autumn of 1858, owing to our late super- 
intendent, Mr Mitchell, having kept the statistics, and which by some 
means have fallen aside, but which, to the best of my recollection, 
amounted to somewhere about 240. These were all marked with gal- 
vanized wire in the upper part of the nose. In the autumn of 1859 I 
marked 166 in all, 100 of which were marked with silver wire as before, 
and the remaining 66 with copper wire, in consequence of the supply of 
silver wire running short. 
“ Of the 240 marked in the autumn of 1858, none, to my knowledge, 
have been recaptured in the Tweed; but I have received information of 
three that were caught in the north of Scotland—one near Montrose, one 
in the River Don near Aberdeen, and one at the Cove fishing on this side 
of the same town. J may mention that one of these (about 23 lbs. weight) 
was forwarded to the late Mr Paulin, when in London in July last, by a 
Mr Johnston of Montrose, with the wire in its nose, and which I would 
call a fine whitling or sea-trout, but which there, I believe, goes by the 
name of ‘ Finnock’ or ‘Herling.’ As to the 166 marked last autumn, 
I can trace four marked with the galvanized wire, and one marked with 
copper wire, recaptured in the Tweed, all of which were caught in the 
tideway. One of those marked with silver wire I got an account of as 
having been caught in the North Esk during last week. I produce spe- 
cimens of the wires taken out of these fish. I may mention, when these 
fish were marked in the months of October and November, they would 
weigh from 8 to 12 ounces ; and when retaken in the succeeding summer 
months, their weight varied from 13 Ib. to 2? lbs. 
“As to the Kelts, from the disturbed state of the Commission in the 
spring of 1859, nothing wasdone. During the last spring I have marked 
and caused to be marked 54 salmon, 9 grilse, and 965 trouts ; in all, 1028. 
A part of these were marked by an ivory label attached to the gill-cover 
by a wire, of which label I now produce a specimen. Those not marked 
with labels were marked with wire attached to the same place. Up to 
the present day there has not, so far as I can ascertain, been one of these 
fish recaptured as clean fish on their return from the sea—showing the 
same result as in 1858. I may mention that these fish were marked from 
the fishery of Wilford downwards, or about six miles from the mouth of 
the river; and as it would have been impossible to have marked this 
large number without considerable expense to the Commissioners, I 
would recommend that this meeting vote Mr Paxton, superintendent of 
the Berwick Shipping Company’s fishermen, a sum of L.5 as a remune- 
ration to himself and others for the trouble he and they have taken in 
assisting to mark the kelts, 
“‘T may also state that in May last I accompanied our superintendent to 
the river to point out to him the different kinds of fish which it was illegal © 
for persons to capture by the rod. Of course, in doing this, we had to 
use the small net, when the quantity of bull trout smolts brought ashore 
were to me and to all quite miraculous, but I am sorry to say those of the 
salmon proper were very meagre. In opening some of the trout smolts 
I found as many as five or six of the salmon-fry in their stomachs; and I 
much fear, if this fish is allowed to increase as at present, they will soon 
banish the salmon and grilse from the river. Before leaving this subject, 
I have again to ask permission to continue to mark the blacktail in 
autumn and the kelts in spring, as well as power to try the river with 
the long net to ascertain the quality of the fish, and more especially to 
see if we cannot capture some of the marked kelts, This will be attended 
with little expense, as the nets for the purpose are still in existence, 
‘Gno, SmitH, Superintendent.” 
