Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/374

344 Sea-Trout; or Smolts of the Sea-Trout which have remained two years in the fresh-water streams, after putting on the silver. Thus we find Par ¼ lb. weight, but Smolts in silver often three inches long only, and others seven inches long. These, I take it, are the young of different hatchings, the larger of which are the progeny of older Salmon; the larger and smaller Par in the same way.

"Now, if Brown Trout feed—'stodge'—on Elvers, they lie in wait for them, because Brown Trout are not strictly migratory; but if Smolts and Sea-Trout Grilse also feed largely on Elvers—as I feel sure they do—they, being anodromous or migratory, come down in bulk to meet the Elvers. The first appearance of Elvers on any reach of water (on Deveron) wakes up the migratory instinct at once, and, acting almost like ground-bait, sets the Smolts and Sea-Trout Grilse—aye, and Salmon Kelts, too—on the move seaward. Thence the well-known name, 'A weel-mendit kelt.'"

are glad to see from 'The Scottish Geographical Magazine' for June that it is proposed to organize and equip a Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, which will co-operate with the German and British expeditions now being fitted out, and devote its attention more especially to physical and biological oceanographical researches, and to geology and meteorology.

The Scottish vessel will be one of the ordinary Norwegian or Scottish type of whalers of about 500 tons, 130 ft. long, and steaming seven to eight knots. A ship of this size will have ample accommodation for thirty-seven all told. The proposed staff includes six scientists and five ships' officers, and a crew of twenty-six. The ship will proceed from Scotland on August 1st, 1901, to Port Stanley, in the Falkland Islands, which will form the base for operations in the Antarctic regions. She will proceed southward by Weddell's track in 30° W. This route has never yet been tried seriously with a steamer. Weddell, in 1823, penetrated far south with two sailing ships, one of 120 tons and one of 65 tons; Bellinghausen also was successful a little farther eastward. Ross, with sailing-ship, failed, but Larsen, with a steamer, reached 68° S. in about 60° W. The Dundee whalers, in 1892 and 1893, being on commerce bound, were chiefly occupied securing Seals, and, since these abounded in the vicinity of the Circle, they had no need to go farther south. There is little doubt that the ice can be penetrated by such a vessel as that above mentioned.

Mr. William S. Bruce will take command of the expedition with a whaling captain under him and four other officers; a naturalist will be permanently attached to the ship, and will take charge of and carry on the scientific work there during the leader's absence with the wintering party. The land party will land in a high latitude on the east coast of Graham's Land, and the ship will return northward for the winter.