GROWTH OF THE FRY. 15 
and ¢, represent the average rate of growth between the time 
when the fry has completely absorbed the umbilical sac, at 
about six weeks old, and the second, third, and fourth 
months of its existence. When about a couple of years old 
the young samlet prepares for his first visit to the sea, and 
dons a new tourist suit for the purpose. The dark bars on 
his side—the “ finger ”-marks, which are characteristic of the 
“parr” or young salmon—become covered with a coating of 
brilliant silvery scales, and thus arrayed, like a knight in 
silver armour, the young salmon, now known as a “smolt,” 
makes the best of his way down-stream. In favourable 
Fig. 7. 
1 
SIZE OF SALMON FRY AT I, 2, 3, AND 4 MONTHS. 
seasons the rivers literally swarm with these young fish, 
which, eagerly devouring such insect life as they chance to 
meet with, may easily be caught with rod and line. The 
May-fly is out in abundance, for, as the old couplet has it— 
“ The first floods in May 
Take all the smolts away,” 
and no bait is more tempting to them. Before the present 
salmon laws came into force angling for smolts was a 
recognised form of sport. A basket of them could often 
be taken without difficulty in an hour, and the destruction 
of young salmon in this way was so great that the Legis- 
