of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



129 



Before the hatching season began in February the temperature of the 

 sea- water was exceptionally low. At Dunbar it generally varied between 

 1*5° and 2*5° C. during that month, while in other places further up the 

 Forth the thermometer sometimes was down to zero or very near it. 



Low temperatures such as those above mentioned have no particularly 

 bad effect on the eggs while in the apparatus — I mean after they are 

 spawned. But it will probably affect their preceding development in 

 the ovaries as well as the condition of the fishes themselves. 



The transparency of the water varied very much according to the 

 direction of the wind ; but by the new system of filtration the ill effects 

 of muddy water on the occasions referred to have been considerably 

 reduced. 



5. The Distribution of the Fry. 



The young fry are kept in the apparatus till the yolk-sac is nearly 

 absorbed, at which stage they are distributed from the hatchery, the 

 arrangements at which are not at present adapted for rearing the 

 larval fishes. The time that elapses from the spawning of the eggs 

 until the fry are ready for distribution varies considerably according to 

 the temperature of the water ; and the plaice generally remain in the 

 hatchery for from three to five weeks. 



The fry have been put out in the waters of the Firth of Forth and St 

 Andrews Bay in various localities, as will be seen from the accompanying 

 table. The fry have been distributed in the Forth when the tide on the 

 occasion has been full or near it, and further out towards the Isle of 

 May when the tide was low. 



The same principle has been followed in St Andrews Bay. 



Table showing the Localities where the Fry were put into the Sea. 



Date. 



Locality. 



Temperature at 

 the Surface. 



Specific Gravity 

 at the Surface. 



1 Temperatui e at 

 j the Bottom. 



Specific Gravity 

 at the Bottom. 



Transparency. 



Depth in 

 Fathoms. 



Number of 

 Fry put out. 



Apr. 25 



Firth of Forth, at the middle 

 of Station V , about 4 miles 

 west of Isle of May, 



c. 

 72 



1027-5 

 (8-6) 



c. 

 4-9 



1028-1 

 (81) 



3 



28 



3,200,000 



„ 29 

 May 8 



Firth of Forth, midway 

 between Isle of May and 

 Fife Ness, 



Firth of Forth, Station I., 

 east end, 5| miles from 

 Fidra, .... 



6- 4 



7- 5 



1027-8 

 (8-2) 



1027-2 

 (11-7) 



5- 7 



6- 4 



1028-0 

 (7-8) 



1027 2 

 (12-5) 



3 



3* 



19 

 16* 



4,400,000 

 6,800,000 



>i 14 



St Andrews Bay, Station I., 

 middle, one mile off 

 shore, .... 



100 



1026 2 

 (106) 



7-7 



1027-2 

 (10 -5) 



5 



10 



4,500,000 



14 



St Andrews Bay, Station II. , 

 west end, two miles off 

 shore, .... 



9-8 



1026-2 

 (10-8) 



7-6 



1027-1 



(9-7) 



5 



9* 



4,600,000 



„ 20 



Firth of Forth, 4 miles 

 N.N.W. from Fidra, 



10-4 



1027 2 

 (111) 



7-9 



1027-8 

 (106) 



6 



24 



2,900,000 



„ 20 



Firth of Forth, Station I., 

 middle, four miles off 

 shore, .... 



9-3 



1027 2 

 (9-9) 



7-8 



1027-6 

 (91) 



3* 



13 



2,700,000 



i, 24 



Firth of Forth, Station V., 

 middle, 4 miles west of 

 Isle of May, 



7-6 



1027-7 

 (8-7) 



6-9 



1027-6 

 (8-7) 



6 



20 



8,200,000 



ii 28 



St Andrews Bay, Station V., 

 four miles off shore, . 



9-5 



1026-7 



7-7 



1027-4 





15 



1,315,000 





(10-9) 



(10-4) 

















38,615,000 



