Volume 9 - Electric Scotland

species in the Firth. SOLEA LUTEA (J?isS0).
212 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY
One of these was captured in Station 3 ;
four in Station 5 ;
seven in Station 8 ;
four in Station 9 ;
and one at the " mouth of
the Firth."
Six of them were captured during the month of June, the others
in February (2), March (i), May (i), July (i), August (i), September
(2), October (i),
and December (2).
The few Sail Flukes captured during the eleven years of systematic
trawling, conducted for experimental purposes by the
that this fish is an uncommon
Fishery Board, conclusively proves
EAGLE CLARKE, "Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist.," 1900, p. 14.
As additional information, it may be stated that single eggs of
the Solenette have on three occasions been taken in the Firth.
One was obtained in Largo Bay by the "Garland" on the i6th
of March 1894 ("Rep. Fish. Board Scot.," 1893, part iii. p. 298);
one at the surface, at Station 6, on the i8th of April 1894 (t.c. p.
299) ; and one at the surface of the last-named station, on the 29th
of August 1895 (pp. cit. 1895, part iii. p. 226).
SCOMBRESOX SAURUS ( Walbaum\
PARNELL, pp. 276-277. "According to Dr. Neill, it is not an uncommon
fish in the Firth of Forth, but of late years
. . .
not a single specimen has been observed in the Firth" (p. 277).
This gregarious and migratory species appears, from the information
available, to be an uncertain visitor to the Firth.
Since Parnell wrote there have been several remarkable influxes
of the Saury Pike to the waters of the estuary.
Late in October and early in November 1855, vast numbers
appeared in the Firth, ascending the river to Alloa, and it is said
that millions of them were captured between that town and Kincardine.
They were also obtained in great numbers by the fisher-folk
at Musselburgh and Fisherrow, and on the igth of November a considerable
number were taken in the herring -nets off Queensferry
("Proc. Roy. Phys. Soc. Edin.," vol. i. pp. 49-51).
During the latter months of 1884 this fish was common in the
Firth. During this immigration Mr. William Evans saw a number
stranded at Kincardine on 23rd October, and received specimens
from Aberlady.
CLUPEA PILCHARDUS, Walbaum.
PARNELL, pp. 320-322. "A few are taken occasionally in the
summer months on the Berwick and Dunbar coasts, but since
the year 1876, no appearance of a Pilchard has been observed
in the Firth of Forth " (p. 321).