24 FISH CULTURE. 



care in the fall of 1860 to have the whole of the milt 

 and ova taken from full-grown salmon ; but this 

 made no difference, for in May 1861, about the same 

 j)roportion of young fish left for the sea, and about 

 the same proportion also remained behind in the 

 ponds as usual. The smolt having reached the sea 

 remains there for a period varying from two to 

 four months, when it again returns to the river in 

 the form of a young salmon or grilse, having in- 

 creased in weight to a wonderful degree, grilse 

 varying from 2Ibs. to even as high as 121bs. in 

 weight. 1 After its next migration to the sea as a 

 grilse kelt, it having spawned in the interim, it 

 returns to the river a full-grown and complete 

 salmon of from 71bs. or 81bs. to 161bs. or 171bs. in 

 weight, each year and each migration to the sea 

 increasing its weight considerably; but after the 

 first year or two it is supposed that its weight in- 

 creases less rapidly ; but on this point little as yet 

 has been clearly ascertained. Having now traced its 

 progress from the egg to the salmon, we must 

 return to the egg. 



It must be manifest when the thousands of eggs 



1 I think it possible, as there is an irregularity in the period of 

 the smolts going to the sea, that there may be a like irregularity as 

 to their return, and that these large grilse may have stayed over 

 the twelvemonth in the salt water. — F. F. 



