22 FISH CULTURE. 



decreases. During this time it requires no food, 

 being sustained by the nourishment contained in the 

 umbilical bladder. This, however, gradually grows 

 less and less, as its contents are slowly absorbed 

 into the young fish, and it finally disappears in 

 about five or six weeks, when the fish is a well- 

 shaped little creature of about an inch in length, 

 and is capable of ranging about to look for food. 

 At six months it is a lively active fish about three 

 or four inches in length. At the age of twelve 

 months, when it is from four to five inches in length, 

 a singular change takes place. The fish, hitherto 

 marked with transverse bands, and strongly resem- 

 bling a young trout, changes its scales, and takes on 

 it the brilliant silvery armour of a young salmon ; a 

 pretty bright and thoroughbred-looking little crea- 

 ture it is at this age, incessant in activity, darting 

 at every small fly and insect that attracts its atten- 

 tion. When taken in the hand the transverse marks 

 of the parr state have apparently disappeared ; but 

 if the scales, which come off in the hand at the 

 slightest touch, be removed, the dark parr marks 

 may still be discovered beneath them, proving the 

 identity of the fish with the parr marked fish. 

 When it has reached the stage above described it 

 is called a smolt, and is ready for its first migration 



