140 ON THE NATURE OF THE PAR, 



there over and over again. But a fact somewhat similar may be noted, 

 nearer Edinburgh, on the stream which runs into the Forth below 

 Cramond, and also on the Esk close to Musselburgh, both of which are 

 visited by a small species of sea-trout. From the former stream we 

 have taken them in considerable numbers ; and although angling with a 

 small fly, we never caught or saw a single par. Also at Musselburgh 

 the same thing has happened to us*. 



We have thus disproved two theories respecting the par : first, that 

 it is a mule betwixt the salmon and river trout ; and second, that 

 it is the male of the sea-trout, whitling, or finnock. We are now 

 narrowed to the following points either that it forms a distinct and 

 separate species of fish, or is the real fry of the salmon in a certain con- 

 dition. In disproving one of these points we prove the other. Now as 

 to its being a separate species of fish, we need only refer to the facts 

 alluded to above, in order to refute this notion ; viz., its known relation 

 to the sea, its identity of sex, and want of generating power. But 

 besides these we may further, remark, that the par is known to grow 

 rapidly, and that the same individuals do not remain in our rivers above 

 a single season; because, as will be observed, the supply of every suc- 

 ceeding year is a supply of young and fresh-formed fish, without any 

 intermixture of a former breed. What then has become of the vast 

 quantities left in our rivers during the bygone season ? Were they dead, 

 a mortality so striking might easily be discovered by their remains; the 

 fact is, they all proceed naturally to the sea, there to undergo those 

 processes which submit them back to us in the shape of grilse and sal- 

 mon. Nay, there is no other refuge for our opponents in this discus- 

 sion to take to unless they revert, as we once heard an angler do, to 

 the cross system, and maintain the par to be a breed betwixt the min- 

 now and trout, both of which fish exist in waters inaccessible to the 

 salmon ; moreover, the folly of the cross system is here exposed, 

 because we imagine it more likely for the minnow and trout to produce 

 a mule, than a half sea-fish with one absolutely fresh-water. We have 



* Salmon, however, are said sometimes to ascend these waters ; we have heard 

 of one being caught with the rod above Kirkliston. This, however, on further 

 inquiry, turned out to be a species of bull-trout, bred in the long still pools below 

 that village, and which are not unfrequeritly taken with the leister near the head of 

 Almond during the spawning season. Salmon have certainly been caught close to 

 the sea in the neighbouring bays, but we doubt very much their breeding in either 

 stream. The fry of these fish have not been discovered of late years in any shape, 

 whether as common smouts or par. 



