132 THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



yet been able to give a satisfactory answer. I do 

 not pretend to be able to do so myself, but I will 

 give my opinion for what it is worth. A well- 

 mended kelt is, as a Scotchman would say, "just a 

 well-mended kelt," or, in other words, a spent sal- 

 mon which has grown fat in fresh water on smolts 

 on their way to the sea. These fish attain such a 

 good condition, that even experienced salmon-fishers 

 are sometimes puzzled at first sight to distinguish 

 them from clean fish. An ordinary spent fish can 

 be identified at once, be it never so bright-looking 

 and silvery. A big head, out of all proportion to its 

 body, a tucked-up belly and a large and protruding 

 vent are outward and visible sians which cannot be 

 mistaken, maggots also will invariably be found in 

 its gills ; but as insects, apparently similar to them, 

 which have been proved to be marine parasites, are 

 occasionally seen adhering to the gills of bona 

 fide clean salmon, and seadice adhering to their 

 bodies at the same time, I should not attach much 

 importance to this as a test. It is, however, as I 



