58 



Thirty-ninth Annual Report 



prised one on the distribution of plaice eggs in the northern North 

 Sea ; on the distribution and migration of the edible crab ; on the 

 growth of the lemon sole ; on the post-larval stages of the Gadida?, 

 and on the herring trawling investigations in the North Sea. 



CHAPTER XI. 



SALMON FISHERIES. 



The total weight of salmon and sea trout carried by rail and sea 

 in Scotland in 1920 was 1448 tons 17 cwt. This total is 354 tons 

 below the weight carried in 1919, and 203 ton3 below the figure 

 representing the last quinquennial average. The catch by net, 

 therefore, was the worst, with one exception, in the history of the 

 Scottish Salmon Fisheries. The lowest total was that of 1916, when 

 the figure was 173 tons below that of 1920. 



While this result is depressing, it happens none the less that, 

 owing to the high price obtained for the fish, the financial results 

 have apparently been satisfactory. The wholesale prices at Billings- 

 gate for Scottish salmon were, expressed in monthly averages, 4s. 5d. 

 for February, and thereafter, 3s. 8Jd., 3s. 9|d., 3s. 5d., 3s. 5Jd., 3s. 8id., 

 3s. 11^-d., and 3s. 7-g-d. per lb. Another factor of interest was that 

 angling in most districts was exceptionally good, especially in 

 spring, and that, owing apparently to the abundant rainfall in all 

 districts south of Inverness, many fish passed the nets. The stock of 

 fish, therefore, was probably much better than the catch by nets 

 indicates. It appears that the Tay District yielded to the rod over 

 4500 fish, the Tweed 2850, and the Helmsdale 3400. These are three 

 typical East Coast rivers. Grilse, however, were not so numerous as 

 in the previous season. 



The accompanying chart of curves shows the fluctuations, as 

 shown by the weight of salmon carried to market, since 1894. The 

 country is divided into four districts : — Berwick to the entrance to 

 the Moray Firth at Cairnbulg Point, the latter point to Cape Wrath, 

 Cape Wrath to the Clyde, and the Clyde to the limits of the Upper 

 Solvray. The actual figures are given in a table arranged in five 

 quinquennial periods, to which are added the figures for seasons 1919 

 and 1920. 



[Tablk. 



