76 Appendices to Twenty-fourth Annual Report 



but were not very well nourished or plump in outline. But for the 

 the silvery scales there was nothing to distinguish them from smolts 

 which were reared in fresh water alone. In length the fish varied from 

 8 to 10 inches, being then three years old. 



As a result of this most unfortunate accident, the pond was divided 

 into two compartments, so that each could be cleaned out periodically 

 and the fish transferred from the one to the other. 



The experiment was subsequently repeated, and after the second lot 

 of smolts had been one year in the sea pond under the new and 

 apparently healthier conditions, I received a specimen 13 inches in 

 length (33* cm.). This specimen has already been figured together with 

 a specimen of a Gal way fish (Proc. Boy. Soc. JEd., xxv., p. 395). 



One great difficulty experienced at Tugnet; is the procuring of a supply 

 of suitable food from a marine source. The food supplied to the fish 

 has been exclusively, so far as I am aware, the liver used at the 

 fresh-water ponds at Cunninghaugh. Dahl, in Norway, who succeeded 

 in a year and a half in rearing smolts to nearly the same size (21*5 to 

 31*5 cm.), fed his little fish on marine worms, the fry of Gobius ruthes 

 parri and G. miiiutus, two common shore fishes, and in the autumn and 

 winter on fresh herring. 



(b) Spawning of Smolts. 



At the Cunninghaugh Ponds, where the smolts above referred to 

 were reared, it was found in December 1904 that some smolts taken from 

 the fresh water were ripe. There were three females about two and a 

 half years old, one larger and probably older female, and one male two 

 and half years old. The females were stripped on 22nd December 1904, 

 and the ova impregnated by the milt from the male. As, however, 

 the quantity of milt was rather deficient, a ripe adult male fish was 

 procured and some additional milt from this fish used. The ova were 

 then placed in the Fochabers Hatchery and kept separate from the 

 ordinary salmon ova. They hatched out well on 5th April 1905, the 

 proportion of loss being, I am informed, in no way remarkable. Last 

 December (1905) Mr. Rae kindly sent me two sets of specimens, one of 

 those fry, and the other of the ordinary salmon fry hatched at the same 

 time from the eggs of adult fish. The two sets of specimens are 

 indistinguishable in every respect. 



Another search was made for ripe smolts last December in order that, 

 if possible, the impregnation might be effected by male smolt milt 

 alone. On 17th January (1906) two ripe females and one ripe male 

 were secured. Concerning these Mr. Rae writes — " We spawned these 

 and fertilised with the male smolt only, and in due time we will be able 

 to let you know how they progress. The ova is as large as grilse ova, 

 of a green colour. . . . The females were about | lb. in weight 

 each, and the male about j lb." 



I have since been informed that this experiment with smolt ova and 

 smolt milt has totally failed. 



(c) Salmon Caught out at Sea. 



After considerable inquiry I have obtained the following limited 

 number of records of salmon captured by steam trawlers. It is evident, 

 however, that a few other captures may from time to time have 

 occurred, but salmon captured at sea by those whose business it is to 

 fish for white fish may not always find their way to market or be re- 

 ported to the owners, especially in the close season. 



