of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



53 



In the upper loch the average depth is over 22 fathoms • in some places 

 it reaches 75 fathoms. The average depth of the lower loch is greater, 

 and in some parts the depth is over 80 fathoms. As a rule the water 

 rapidly deepens from the shore, and the localities where there are 

 stretches of sandy beach are few in number, that is to say, places 

 suited for the life and growth of young plaice on the completion of their 

 transformation and the commencement of their bottom habit. 



The larvae from the hatchery were transported by rail during the 

 night, usually in large glass carboys, the water of which had been cooled 

 to a suitable extent, ascertained by a number of experiments, and the fry 

 were placed in the water in the upper loch early next morning, at a depth 

 where a suitable salinity and temperature existed. The earlier consignments 

 were carried in receptacles cooled by ice during transit, but the other 

 method was found to be most satisfactory. All the fry were placed in 

 the waters of the upper loch, and usually in the upper parts of it, and 

 fry were put in in each year from 1896 to 1902, as detailed in the 

 following Table : — 



No. of Fry 

 Liberated. 



April 



1 



800,000 





12 



1,400,000 



» 



15 



2,900,000 





22 



2,700,000 



>> 



26 



2,200,000 





29 



3,400,000 



May 



4 



2,200,000 



>> 



10 



1,300,000 



5J 



13 



700,000 



>> 



17 



900,000 



5J 



20 



700,000 



Place where Fry 

 Liberated. 



April 



25 



600,000 



May 



4 



1,500,000 



>? 



11 



1,500,000 



>> 



16 



500,000 







4,100,000 



1897. 





April 



1 



2,400,000 



?> 



10 



3,200,000 



>> 



16 



4,000,000 



») 



23 



3,300,000 



?> 



30 



2,500,000 



May 



5 



2,100,000 



>> 



13 



2,400,000 



;> 



24 



1,270,000 







21,170,000 



Off Inverae. 



Between Furnace and Strachur. 

 About 3 miles above Otter Spit. 

 Lochgair. 



Between Lochgair and Minard Castle. 

 Between Otter Spit and Lochgair. 

 Off Strachur. 



Between Lochgair and Minard Castle. 

 Off Lochgair. 



Between Lochgair and Minard Castle. 

 Off Penmore. 

 Off Crarae. 



Off Inveraray, middle of Loch . 



Two miles above St. Catherine's 

 Off Inveraray, middle of Loch. 



19,200,000 



