62 The Salmon 



The last number would make a salmon seven years old on its first 

 return from the sea. 



THE SCALES OF SALMON 



The late Lord Blythswood was the first to direct my attention to 

 the importance of the study of scales. During the year 1902 he very 

 kindly sent me several enlarged photographs of scales, which I have 

 still in my possession, drawing my attention to the contraction on 

 a grilse scale. This, he stated, pointed to the grilse having spent 

 one winter in the sea before returning to fresh water. Another 

 scale, showing three contractions, according to his theory, pointed 

 to that particular fish having spent three winters in the sea before 

 returning. 



Knowing I had the opportunity of obtaining scales at all times, 

 he was anxious that I should put his theory to the test. Although 

 I had the idea that Lord Blythswood was correct in his assumption, 

 it still remained to be proved by practical experiment. This I im- 

 mediately set about doing, and devised, after much trouble, to mark 

 the delicate smolt, so that it would return in all its stages with 

 the mark still attached. Up to that time the marking of smolts 

 had been done in a most unsatisfactory and unsuccessful manner ; 

 and not until this mark was devised could any reliable information 

 be obtained. 



Success attended my efforts ; and on comparing a scale taken from 

 the first marked grilse with that of the enlarged photo given me by 

 Lord Blythswood, I found one contraction, proving clearly that his 

 theory was correct. As the season advanced more marked fish came 

 forward, and the older the grilse the more lines could be counted on 

 the scales. Later on came the small spring fish, succeeded by the 

 autumn fish, each run showing two contractions. 



Still later came the large spring fish, showing three distinct con- 

 tractions on their scales. On comparing the latter with the other 

 enlarged photo given me by Lord Blythswood, I found the scales 



