14 
suspension, rainfall, &c., must be carefully studied in 
connection with turning in the young salmon, but with a 
little experience ultimate success is assured. 
The Hatchery can supply eyed ova for the redds and fry 
for the shallows, and ponds should be constructed near the 
Hatching-house for yearlings, but where it is necessary to 
stock with smolts ponds for the purpose must be constructed 
near the head of the estuary, as the carriage of two-year-old 
samlets is neither easy nor economical. The time that inter- 
venes between the smolt just entering the tidal water and 
its first return towards the river varies considerably on the 
east coast of Scotland ; two summers may sometimes inter- 
vene, and we must be careful not to assume that all fish 
return or attempt to return in the grilse stage, for I have 
found in the case of the Lochleven Trout only a small 
proportion spawn in the corresponding state. 
But whatever the time is we know that his growth is most 
rapid, and his sea food must be studied before much further 
advance can be made in Salmon culture ; garvies and young 
herring probably form a great portion of his food, but what- 
ever it be his paths in the sea are as well marked, and to 
some fishermen, alas, as well known, as in the river. 
Trammels in the sea are successfully dropped by east 
coast fishing boats on their way out and lifted on their 
return. The food of Salmon at sea may possibly be 
influenced by the modes of fishing. Boats year by year go 
farther north and farther to sea for their Herrings; the 
fishing grounds are slowly but surely receding from the 
shore. It is too early yet to foreshadow the results, it may 
be that food inshore grows more plentiful now that the 
Herrings are further out, or it may be that the Herrings are 
further out because the inshore food has decreased, it may 
be, and to a certain extent it must be, a matter of changing 
