Solutions to the SFCC scale reading quiz available for SFCC members at www.sfcc.co.uk

1. 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

2. R. Dee
18th July 1928
Sea winters on this scale
Image from: 1931 Salmon of the R Dee (Kirkcudbright), plate I
1 sea winter

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

4. July 1995
Sea winters on this scale
July 1995
55lbs, Namsen Fjord, Norway
1 sea winter
2 sea winter
3 sea winter
4 sea winter

5. R. Add
15th Aug 1913
Q 3.1: How many sea winters are there on this scale?
Image from: 1914 Plate III fig 2

6. 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

7. 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
29.07.1998
60cms, 4lbs

8. R. Tweed
29.07.1998
60cms, 4lbs
Reading : x.1+open
1st sea summer
2nd sea summer
Open growth at edge
1st sea winter

9. R. Tweed
16.11.1998
10lbs
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

10. 1st sea summer
2nd sea summer
Closing growth at edge
Reading : x.1+closing
1st sea winter
R. Tweed
16.11.1998
10lbs

11. R Tweed
02.05.1994
86cm, 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
Spawningmark

12. R. Tweed
02.05.1994
86cm, 13 lbs
Reading: x.1.sm.1
3 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

13. R. Add, Argyll
20.02.1913
Kelt, 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?

14. Reading: 2.1.2sm.1
or
2.1.sm.sm.1*
1 sea summer
2 sea summer
3 sea summer
R. Add, Argyll
20.02.1913
Kelt, 10lbs 4 sea summer
2 sm
1 sm
1 sea winter
1st 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 winter
Could become 3rd sm

15. 20.02.1913
Kelt, 10lbs
This fish was caught the year before as well and scales from both captures are shown here:
24.02.1912
Kelt, 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

16. 20.02.1913
Kelt, 10lbs
24.02.1912
Kelt, 8lbs
1st Sea-winter
1st spawning mark
Old edge becomes
2nd spawning mark
1 river winter
2 river winter

17. R. Tweed
16.02.1999
92cm 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

18. 2.3
1 sea winter
2 sea winter
2 river winter
1 river winter
R. Tweed
16.02.1999
92cm 15lbs
3 sea winter

19. 18.10.91
63cm, 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

20. R Tweed
18.10.91
63cm, 5lbs,
3.1+o
1st sea winter
Transition
Open growth around
most of edge

21. R. Tweed
27.03.1995
12lbs 80cms
Q 12.1: What is the reading of the marine phase of this scale?

22. x.1.sm.1
1st sea winter
Spawning mark
1 summer & 1 winter
after the spawning
mark = 1 year
R. Tweed
27.03.1995
12lbs 80cms

23. R. Tweed
19.11.2003
14lbs
Q 13.1: How many sea winters are there on this scale ?
Q 13.2: Is the growth at the edge open or closed ?

24. R. Tweed
19.11.2003
14lbs
1st sea winter
2nd sea winter
Open growth at edge
2.2+o

25. A: Grilse or Salmon?
16.02.1999
10.11.1998
16.11.1998
B: Grilse or Salmon?
D: Grilse or Salmon?C: Grilse or Salmon?
29.07.98

26. A: 2.2 Salmon
16.02.1999
92cm 15lbs
16.11.1998
10lbs
29.07.98
60cm 4lbs
B: 1.1+cl Grilse
C: 2.1+cl Grilse D: 1.1+o Grilse
10.11.1998
8lbs
In the Autumn, the
closing growth at the
edge of a scale gives a
Grilse a similar pattern
to that of a 2SW fish

27. 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?

28. 1 river winter
2 river winter 0 run-out

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

30. 1 River winter
2 River winter
3 River winter

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

32. 1 River winter
2 River winter

33. 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)

34. Image from: movements in the sea Fig 1 (note: original reading was incorrect)
1 River winter
2 River winter
3 River winter