48 SALMONID:E. 



the belief of many who may be disposed to admit the truth 

 of the facts resulting from the experiments upon the adult 

 fishes. Nevertheless, they are strictly true ; and I would 

 strongly recommend that all those interested should imme- 

 diately turn their attention to a subject so curious in a zoolo- 

 gical point of view, and so important in its bearings on the 

 history of the most highly prized of all the species which 

 ever sojourn in our river waters." 



It will be recollected, then, from these details, commencing 

 with the observations of Dr. Knox, that the young Salmon was 

 believed by some to go down to salt water when only two or 

 three months old, or in its first spring. By others it was con- 

 sidered that the young fish did not go down to the salt water 

 till it was fourteen months old, or in its second spring ; and the 

 experiments of Mr. Shaw go to prove that they do not go down 

 to the salt water till they have completed their second year, and 

 are in their third spring. If Mr. Shaw is correct that a Pink 

 of three inches and a half in the month of April is twelve 

 months old, which there is now from his various experi- 

 ments no reason to doubt, it will be found that Mr. Par- 

 ker's observations, commencing with Pinks from the Hodder 

 in April, then twelve months old, subsequently corroborate 

 the views of Mr. Shaw both as to growth and colour. 



To return to the Salmon when in a natural state. The 

 adult fish having spawned, being out of condition and unfit 

 for food, are considered as unclean fish. They are usually 

 called Kelts ; the male fish is also called a Kipper, the female 

 a Shedder, or Baggit. With the floods of the end of winter 

 and the commencement of spring they descend the river from 

 pool to pool, and ultimately gain the sea, where they quickly 

 recover their condition, to ascend again in autumn for the 

 same purpose as before ; but always remaining for a time in 

 the brackish water of the tide- way before making either de- 

 cided change ; obtaining, it has been said, a release from 



