64 MARVELS OF FISH LIFE 



two broad rings and seven narrow rings for the second 

 summer and second winter in the sea ; and, lastly, two 

 or three broad rings for the spring growth in the sea. 

 In May the fish was caught in fresh water. 



A glance at the scales as a whole shows the summer 

 growth in the sea as a broad light band and the winter 

 growth as a narrow dark band. 



The second illustration shows another scale from the 

 same fish. The particular points of interest in this 

 photograph are, the clearness with which are shown the 

 original scale, the first and second year's growth as a 

 parr, and the single broad ring of growth added to the 

 scale at the commencement of the salmon's third summer 

 in the sea. 



By means of the systematic markings of smolts and 

 other stages of the salmon, and the examination of 

 scales carried out by numerous scientists all over 

 the country, the life history of the salmon is now 

 partially known. 



Our present knowledge points to the facts that the 

 salmon alevin hatches about February, and lives in 

 fresh water as a parr for over two years, then becomes a 

 silvery smolt and goes to sea about May, that is, twenty- 

 seven months after he has hatched. This fish spends the 

 third year of his life in the sea, and may return as a 

 grilse to fresh water in his fourth year. If he returns 

 early in the year he probably weighs two or three 

 pounds, but if not until the autumn he may weigh ten 

 or twelve pounds. The grilse spawns and becomes a 



