68 



The Salmon 



FIG. 59. 3 Ibs. ist June 1905. 



of the same age. Very 

 few of the. latter, however, 

 are to be met with during 

 November ; besides, a spring 

 fish would be readily known 

 without reference to its 

 scales. 



As a rule, the greatest 

 number of rings a grilse 

 has is fifty-nine or sixty; 

 although, of course, there 

 may be a few exceptions, 

 in the case, for example, 

 of a parr that did not be- 

 come a smolt until it was 

 three years old, or one that 

 became a smolt at the 

 age of one year, as some 



the others. This difference in 

 the number of lines during 

 the different months, however, 

 is hardly worth considering 

 when it comes to longer 

 periods. No mistake need, 

 therefore, be made in dis- 

 tinguishing between a grilse and 

 a salmon, for one has only to 

 count the number of lines on 

 the scales by the aid of a 

 small magnifying glass. If the 

 number is less than fifty-eight 

 it is a grilse. The only other 

 fish that can approach this 

 number is a small spring fish 





FIG. 60. Marked as Smolt May 1905. 

 Caught 26th June 1906. 5i Ibs. 



