140 



The Salmon 



feeding during the winter, and nature may work in the same mysterious 

 way with the salmon during each succeeding winter in the sea. 



This periodic temporary fast, as we might term it, may account 

 for the closer dark lines that appear on the scales. I do not, however, 

 think this could be caused by the fish ceasing to feed, as they cease 

 doing so at all seasons when their time comes to enter fresh water. 

 We see this in trout, but not quite so pronounced. In Loch Leven 

 during the summer and winter about six per cent ol the trout are 

 barren, and would not spawn the same year. These trout keep in 

 perfect condition during the winter and summer, and do not seek up 

 the various spawning streams. Fish may, therefore, come up from the 

 sea for two reasons: (i) Feeding has ceased; (2) Forced to do so 

 because spawning season has arrived. We know from the marks on 

 the scales that many of the autumn fish full of spawn feed up till the 

 time they leave the sea. This may have something to do with the 

 kelts from these fish returning quickly to the sea after spawning. All 

 autumn fish, however, do not behave in this manner, as many remain 

 for a much longer period after spawning. 



MOVEMENTS OF SALMON IN TIDAL RIVERS 



My experience of the movements of salmon in tidal waters is 

 almost entirely confined to the Tay. The Tay has a long estuary, 

 and the tide flows for a distance of 35 miles. The lower part of the 

 river is from 2 to 3 miles broad during high water, and the 

 upper part from 100 to 400 yards wide. During winter and spring 

 many fish remain a considerable time in the estuary on coming 

 from the sea. It is rather strange that an east wind brings the 

 fish in towards the shore, whilst a west wind makes them hasten 

 up the river. Mild weather, too, makes them push up the river, 

 while snow floods keep them back. When the snow water begins to 

 leave the river they come on in large numbers, and during some 

 seasons it is only when the floods cease that the fish begin to run, 

 although, when the floods are caused by rain, fish will run in high 



