The Salmon 63 



exactly the same, having an equal number of lines and contractions, 

 denoting they had spent three winters in the sea. The marking of 

 the smolts thus clearly proved what Lord Blythswood wished to point 

 out, that each contraction denoted the number of winters spent in 

 the sea. 



This being known, the subsequent reading of the scales was com- 

 paratively easy. If reference be made to Figs. 80 and 81 it will be 

 seen that the former had been a year longer in the sea, had grown 

 to 35 Ibs., and had more lines on its scale than the latter, which 

 had attained the weight of 18 Ibs., and yet both are of the same 

 age, namely, five years. See also Fig. 43 (26^ Ibs., 6^ years old), 

 and two others caught in our nets with my marks intact. These 

 are the only authentic records in existence of smolts having been 

 marked and caught on their second return from the sea. During the 

 whole of the following season a strict watch was kept for marked 

 fish, but none were forthcoming, showing the supply had become 

 exhausted. 



My marks, however, had served their purpose w r ell, and added 

 much to our knowledge of the salmon, far beyond our fondest dreams. 

 Lately I have been devoting a great deal of time to examining the 

 scales of fish, in order to find out what percentage of those caught are 

 on their second return, and also to ascertain the number of lines put 

 on when in the sea. 



A careful record has been kept during each season and month, but 

 unfortunately last year (1911) was so very dry that fish were unable to 

 push forward in numbers sufficient for my purpose. To give the per- 

 centage for any one year, however, I think would be quite misleading, 

 as the large fish cease when the small spring fish begin to increase in 

 numbers. 



Each succeeding month also shows a big divergence, double the 

 number of small spring fish being caught in March than in February, 

 and the same rate of increase goes on until May, when the numbers 

 begin to decrease. Then, again, we have some seasons only yielding 

 one-third the number of small spring fish that others yield ; therefore, 



