THE SALMON FAMILY 67 



sea. The improvement in the vitality and in the 

 appearance of the kelt is due to the fact that the entire 

 blood of the fish is again utilised to nourish its body, 

 instead of being diverted to a considerable extent to 

 supply the organs concerned with the production of 

 spawn. 



It will be seen that the number of salmon in the 

 sea and in our rivers depends upon the number of smolts 

 that go to sea, and the number of smolts that go to sea 

 depends upon the number of salmon eggs deposited on 

 the redds. Salmon parr, smolts, and kelts have for 

 some time been protected by law, but it is only recently 

 that the importance of allowing a sufficient number of 

 spawning fish to reach the redds has been realised. Yet 

 it is upon these spawning fish that the whole salmon 

 fishing industry depends. As soon as more owners of 

 salmon nets recognise that by their persistent netting 

 they are killing the " goose that lays the golden eggs," 

 and that they must allow the nets to be up for longer 

 periods than the law actually demands, so soon will our 

 salmon fisheries improve. 



Some kelts recover their vigour and silvery appear- 

 ance to a greater extent than others, and these are 

 known as " well-mended " fish. 



Now kelts are a perfect nuisance to anglers who are 

 out to kill salmon, but occasionally a well-mended kelt 

 will often give as good sport as any spring fish. 



There are two fish, the memories of which are ever 

 before me. One was a nine-pound carp, the history of 



