1902 - 3 .] Dr Noel Paton on October Salmon in the Sea. 49 5 
2. The ripeness of the ovaries is not the determining factor in 
the migration of salmon from sea to river, since in this series of 
fish, ovaries in all stages of development were found. 
3. The genitalia develop in the sea as in the rivers. 
4. The great variations in the weight of the testes observed in 
this series, taken in connection with the similar divergence in 
Tosh’s series, would seem to show that the size which these struc- 
tures reach varies within very wide limits. 
5. Some at least of the fish which leave the sea as late as 
October have already transferred a large proportion of their fat 
from the muscles to the ovaries, so that the flesh may he as poor 
in fat as that of salmon from the upper reaches of a river. 
The results obtained in this investigation show how desirable it 
is that an endeavour should be made to capture a series of salmon 
in the sea throughout the winter months, by keeping out bag nets 
at certain selected positions on the coast. By subjecting the fish 
thus captured to careful scientific investigation, our knowledge of 
the life history of the salmon in the sea would be greatly 
increased. 
The intelligent interest in the natural history of the salmon 
shown by the more important tacksmen on the East Coast of 
Scotland warrants the hope that some of them might be willing to 
contribute to the expenses of such an inquiry if the permission of 
the Fishery Board to carry on the netting operation could be 
obtained. 
(. Issued separately August 28 , 1903 .) 
