SFCC scale reading quiz solutions

Q 1.1: How many sea winters are there on this scale?

Image from: 1931 Salmon of the R Dee (Kirkcudbright), plate I

R. Dee 18th July 1928

R. Dee 18th July 1928

Sea winters on this scale

Image from: 1931 Salmon of the R Dee (Kirkcudbright), plate I

1 sea winter

July 1995Q 2.1: How many sea winters are there on this scale?

July 1995

Sea winters on this scale

July 199555lbs, Namsen Fjord, Norway

1 sea winter

2 sea winter

3 sea winter

4 sea winter

R. Add 15th Aug 1913

Q 3.1: How many sea winters are there on this scale?

Image from: 1914 Plate III fig 2

R. Add 15th Aug 1913

Sea winters on this scale

Image from: 1914 Plate III fig 2

1 sea winter

2 sea winter

3 sea winter as spawning mark

Q 1.1: Where is / are the sea-winters on this scale?Q 1.2: Is the growth at the edge open or closed?

A

B

C

R. Tweed 29.07.199860cms, 4lbs

R. Tweed 29.07.199860cms, 4lbs

Reading : x.1+open

1st sea summer

2nd sea summer

Open growth at edge

1st sea winter

R. Tweed16.11.199810lbs

Q 1.1: Where is / are the sea-winters on this scale?Q 1.2: Is the growth at the edge open or closed?

A

B

C

1st sea summer

2nd sea summer

Closing growth at edge

Reading : x.1+closing

1st sea winter

R. Tweed16.11.199810lbs

R Tweed02.05.199486cm, 13 lbs

Q 7.1: Where is / are the sea-winters before the spawning mark?Q 7.2: Is the growth at the edge of the scale open or closed?

A

B

C

Spaw

ning

mar

k

R. Tweed02.05.199486cm, 13 lbs

Reading: x.1.sm.13 sea summer

1st sea winter

Spawning mark (sm)

3rd sea winter

1 sea summer

Note: the spawning mark represents the 2nd sea winter

2 sea summer

R. Add, Argyll20.02.1913Kelt, 10lbs

Q 8.1: How many spawning marks are there on this scale?Q 8.2: How many river winters are there on this scale?

Reading: 2.1.2sm.1or

2.1.sm.sm.1*

1 sea summer

2 sea summer

3 sea summer

R. Add, Argyll20.02.1913Kelt, 10lbs 4 sea summer

2 sm

1 sm

1 sea winter1st river winter

2nd river winter

* As this scale was taken after the 1st of January, the final open &

closed growth bands make a full year rather than being .+closing

4 sea winterCould become 3rd sm

20.02.1913Kelt, 10lbs

This fish was caught the year before as well and scales from both captures are shown here:

24.02.1912Kelt, 8lbs

Q 9.1: Where is the old edge of the 1912 scale on the 1913 scale?Q 9.2: How many river winters are there on the 1913 scale?

A

B

C

R. Add, Argyll

20.02.1913Kelt, 10lbs

24.02.1912Kelt, 8lbs

1st Sea-winter

1st spawning mark

Old edge becomes 2nd spawning mark

1 river winter

2 river winter

R. Tweed16.02.199992cm 15lbs

Q 10.1: How many sea-winters are there on this scale ?Q 10.2: How many river winters are there on this scale

2.3

1 sea winter

2 sea winter

2 river winter

1 river winter

R. Tweed16.02.199992cm 15lbs

3 sea winter

18.10.9163cm, 5lbs,

Q 11.1: Where is the transition from river to sea on this scale ?Q 11.2: Is the growth at the edge open or closed ?

ABC

R Tweed18.10.9163cm, 5lbs,

3.1+o

1st sea winter

Transition

Open growth around most of edge

R. Tweed27.03.199512lbs 80cms

Q 12.1: What is the reading of the marine phase of this scale?

x.1.sm.1

1st sea winter

Spawning mark

1 summer & 1 winter after the spawning

mark = 1 year

R. Tweed27.03.199512lbs 80cms

R. Tweed19.11.200314lbs

Q 13.1: How many sea winters are there on this scale ?Q 13.2: Is the growth at the edge open or closed ?

R. Tweed19.11.200314lbs

1st sea winter

2nd sea winter

Open growth at edge

2.2+o

A: Grilse or Salmon?

16.02.199910.11.1998

16.11.1998

B: Grilse or Salmon?

D: Grilse or Salmon?C: Grilse or Salmon?

29.07.98

A: 2.2 Salmon

16.02.199992cm 15lbs

16.11.199810lbs

29.07.9860cm 4lbs

B: 1.1+cl Grilse

C: 2.1+cl Grilse D: 1.1+o Grilse

10.11.19988lbs

In the Autumn, the closing growth at the edge of a scale gives a Grilse a similar pattern to that of a 2SW fish

Q 15.1: How many winters is / are there in this freshwater phase?Q 15.2: Is there run out after the final river winter?

1 river winter

2 river winter 0 run-out

Q 16.1: How many winters is / are there in this freshwater phase?

1 River winter

2 River winter

3 River winter

Q 17.1: How many winters is / are there in this freshwater phase?

1 River winter

2 River winter

Q 19.1: How many winters are there in this freshwater phase?

Image from: movements in the sea Fig 1 (note: original reading was incorrect)

Image from: movements in the sea Fig 1 (note: original reading was incorrect)

1 River winter

2 River winter

3 River winter