The Salmon 



45 



fish as an example because it is impossible that it could have spawned. 

 Others stayed a longer period before returning. A kelt of 8 Ibs., 

 which was marked on i/th January 

 1902, was 20 Ibs. 3 oz. when caught 

 as a clean fish on iSth August 

 1903; while another of 3 Ibs. on 

 3ist January 1906 was 11 Ibs. on 

 2;th April 1907. Kelts marked on 

 other rivers give much the same 

 result, showing clearly that they re- 

 main longer than a year in the sea, 

 thus continuing the same habits as 

 they had after going down as 

 smolts. Their growth is remark- 

 able, for although marked as kelts 

 in January, they may not have 

 entered the sea till April. The 

 6-lb. one has increased to 18 Ibs. ; 

 and another of 6 Ibs. caught on 

 2Oth August of the same year, 

 which has become i4f- Ibs., may not 

 have been in the sea more than 

 four months. This increase is not 

 so remarkable, however, as that of 

 the small smolt going down, weigh- 

 ing i to 2 oz., in April or May 

 1905, and returning on gth August 

 1907, 27 Ibs. in weight! This I 

 consider the greatest increase that 

 is known of any marked fish of the 

 salmon kind. Those running after 

 July are larger from 12 to 20 Ibs. 

 and all spawn and become kelts. Many of them die after spawning. 

 The following are particulars of some of these marked kelts (Fig. 41): 



t/J 



CA: 



