OF GREAT BRITAIN. 29 



fish returning to the river in the summer and 

 autumn witli an increase in weight of 5 to 9 

 lbs. In twelve Grilse of 4 lbs. each which were 

 carefully marked by Mr. Young when descending 

 to the salt water, this was found to be the average 

 increase on their return during the same season. 



Whether the growth-rate is as rapid in the 

 after-stages of their existence we have no accurate 

 means at present of judging ; but reasoning from 

 analogy it would appear probable that it decreases 

 somewhat with the advancing age of the fish, and 

 in very old specimens is perhaps comparatively 

 trifling. Of such Salmon, the largest recorded to 

 have been captured in British waters was a female 

 fish of the weight of 83 lbs., which was exposed 

 for sale in the shop of a London tradesman in the 

 year 1821. Another of 74 lbs. is alluded to by 

 Pennant ; and Mr. T. Grove, the well-known 

 fishmonger, of Parliament Street, informs me that 

 he has had Salmon in his possession weighing 

 upwards of 60 lbs. 



Some very large Salmon have been occasionally 

 caught with the rod. One is noticed by Mr. Las- 

 celles, as taken in Scotland, which weighed 54I- lbs. 

 The late Sir Hyde Parker captured one in Sweden 

 weighing 60 lbs. A Salmon was caught by Sir 

 H. Davy above Yairbridge in the Tweed, of the 

 weight of 42 lbs. ; and a former Earl of Home 

 took another from the same waters of the perhaps 

 unequalled weight of 70 lbs. within a few ounces. 



