CHAPTER II 



GRILSE 



Return of marked smolts as grilse the following season — 

 Habits of grilse in the sea — Ascent of grilse from sea — 

 Habit of many to remain in sea beyond grilse stage — Small 

 spring fish — The spawning of grilse — Ascent of grilse when 

 in poor condition — Argument in support of the marine 

 origin of the salmon — Entrance of salmon to fresh water 

 not entirely explained by condition of satiety — Reproduction 

 in fresh water — Possible transference of small fish from one 

 river to another — Movements of marked grilse along coast of 

 Scotland 



The smolts were all marked in the neighbourhood 

 of Kinfauns, where, as already explained, the little 

 fish can be most easily procured in spring. The 

 operations were carried on from the end of April till 

 early in June. 



No recaptures of those wired smolts after attain- 

 ing the grilse condition were made during the 

 summer or autumn of the year of marking (1905), 

 although the tidal waters were netted day and night 

 as usual through the fishing season, and rod-fishing 

 continued till October 15. 



On June 1, 1906, the first recapture was made, 

 the grilse having the unmistakable silver wire 

 attachment. Soon afterwards others turned up in 

 the nets. The first recapture was appropriately 



