the Salmon, Herring, and Vendace. 



dent that these fish would not have spawned during the present year. The other 

 four had the milt and roe very large. In the males, in which the milt was a mere 

 vessel, the lower jaw had not undergone any change. The trout was thin, but in 

 good condition. The flesh of a pink colour. 1 ' On the other hand, my friend Mr 

 WALKER, without being acquainted with the circumstance made known to me by 

 Mr DARLING, and in a totally different locality, mentioned to me, that, in re- 

 moving some of the eggs of the salmon from the bed of the Kale, the person em- 

 ployed turned up with a spade from the bed of the river, and at the depth of 12 to 14 

 and even 18 inches, a considerable number of trout of various sizes. These lay imbedded 

 in the gravel, placed below a running stream. They seemed at first dull and confused, 

 but in a little time swam away into the stream and disappeared, and, as Mr WALKER 

 thought, again buried themselves under the gravel. These facts seem to go far to ex- 

 plain the vast diminution in number of trout and other fishes in rivers during winter. 



I have known an instance of at least 150 salmon remaining in' and about the sources 

 of some very small streams and pools, in so narrow and contracted and exposed situa- 

 tions, that had they not been extremely well concealed, they could not have escaped 

 the surrounding peasantry. So soon as the spring advances somewhat, those salmon 

 which, during a season of almost unexampled drought, had remained securely concealed 

 in these paltry rivulets, having appeared in the principal channels of the rivulets, were 

 immediately discovered, pursued, and taken ; many of them must, I think, have been con- 

 cealed amongst the mud and gravel. Of trouts, it must be known to every angler that 

 during spring, after each fresh or flood, great numbers appear in the stream in ill con- 

 dition ; these come from their places of concealment, as I have described. 



3. Experiments respecting Hie Growth oftlie Salmon Ova, Smolt, and Grown Salmon. 



THERE are two questions which persons of sound judgment and of great experi- 

 ence with regard to the salmon question, still think undecided, or at the least admit- 

 ting of further illustration, or of demanding a more extended proof. The first of these 

 is a series of experiments required to determine the growth of salmon-fry, from the 

 state of the egg to its attaining the length of 6, 7, 8 or 9 inches, before which it is sel- 

 dom seen by the angler, and after which it ceases to be found in fresh water rivers ; 

 secondly, a second series of observations is required to prove that the fish we call 

 salmon-fry, taken in salmon rivers so readily by angling during the months of April 

 and May, do really proceed to the ocean, to return to the rivers, after a period, as grilse, 

 salmon-trout, and salmon. With reference to the first, I would observe, that the series 

 of observations contained in the text, will be found, when candidly weighed, to go far to 

 decide the question. It is true that Mr BUIST of Perth, the most experienced of all 

 those writers I have met with in regard to salmon and their fisheries, and the best 

 qualified to judge of these matters, still has doubts on this point ; and it is easy for any 

 person viewing the question in the same philosophic and accurate manner in which Mr 

 Buist does, to perceive, as he has done, that the proof by intuitive evidence is wanting, a 

 deficiency which no series of disjointed observations, however well conducted, can en- 

 tirely compensate. All I shall say on this point is, that, on reviewing the locality and 



3 B 2 



