Mr D. Ellis o7i the Natural History of the Salmon. 261 



be the best adapted for ascertaining the proportionate rate of 

 growth in these animals. 



Unfortunately, however, in the present practice of salmon 

 fishing, experiments of this kind can hardly be continued for a 

 sufficient length of time to obtain the required results. Many 

 of the witnesses state, that the skill and perseverance of the 

 fishers are now so great, that, under the stimulus which ready 

 markets and high prices afford, very few of the clean salmon, 

 which once pass up our rivers, are again permitted to return to 

 the sea ; and, consequently, few salmon are now taken of more 

 than one year's growth. In all the fisheries, north of the Tay, 

 with which Mr Hogarth is acquainted, the proportion of grilses 

 to salmon has, for many years past, been gradually increasing; 

 so that, though the total weight of fish taken may not have di- 

 minished, the quantity of salmon has, and this deficiency has 

 been compensated for only by the increased weight of grilses. 

 The cause of this decrease in the proportion of salmon is owing, 

 continues Mr Hogarth, to the too assiduous and close manner 

 of fishing, by which both the number and size of salmon have 

 diminished. I am quite satisfied, he adds, that all our rivers 

 are overfished, even those as to which the total weight of fish 

 has increased *. The great proportion of grilses to salmon in 

 some of the Irish rivers, is remarked by Mr Halliday -f* ; and 

 Mr Little states, that, though the total weight of fish in the 

 river Foyle, in Ireland, has much increased, yet it is mostly 

 made up of grilse, it being seldom that any large salmon is 

 taken in it. In the Shannon, the fish are a great deal larger, 

 few of them being under twenty, and many thirty-five or forty 

 pounds, and upwards J. 



After the process of spawning is completed in the river, the 

 parent fish, says Mr Halliday, retire to the adjoining pools to 

 recruit. In two or three weeks from that time, the male begins 

 to seek his way down the river; the female remains longer 

 about the spawning ground, sometimes until April or May. 

 The fishes which have thus spawned are denominated keUs. 

 These kelts, or spent-fish, come down the river, says Dr Fle- 



• Report II. p. 104, >09. t Report I. p. 64. 



X Report I. p. 112. 



JANUAEY MARCH 1828# 8 



