SALMON. 17 



measured seven inches and a half, had also grown more rapid- 

 ly than that in the well, but had not acquired the size it 

 would have gained had it been allowed to go to sea. 

 Further, it may be observed, that the Salmon Peal from the 

 lake in August 1887, then eighteen months old, though per- 

 fect in colour, is small for its age; while that of July 1838, 

 or twenty-nine months old, is comparatively still more defi- 

 cient in growth, supposing both fish to have resulted from 

 Pinks of the year 1836, and been put into the lake at the 

 same time ; of which there was no doubt, since the lake, the 

 formation of which, though commenced in the autumn of 

 1835, was not finished till February 1836, soon after which 

 the first Pinks were put in. 



In another experiment, a large landed proprietor in Scot- 

 land, whose name I do not know that I am at liberty to 

 mention, wrote as follows : " In answer to your inquiry about 

 the Salmon fry I have put into my newly-formed pond, I must 

 tell you, the water was first let in about the latter end of 

 1830, and some months afterwards, in April 1831, I put in 

 a dozen or two of small Salmon fry, three or four inches long, 

 taken out of a river here, thinking it would be curious to see 

 whether they would grow without the possibility of their 

 getting to the sea or salt water. As the pond, between three 

 and four acres in extent, had been newly stocked with Trout, 

 I did not allow any fishing till the summer of 1833, when 

 we caught with the fly several of these Salmon, from two to 

 three pounds' weight, perfectly well shaped, and filled up, 

 of the best Salmon colour outside, the flesh well-flavoured 

 and well-coloured, though a little paler than that of new- 

 run fish."" 



I have purposely adverted to the growth of the fry of the 

 Salmon in fresh water, as stated by Dr. Knox, Mr. Parker, 

 and others, in order to introduce the important experimental 

 observations of Mr. John Shaw on the development and 



VOL. II. C 



