84 THE LIFE OF THE SALMON 



to sea in the interval and have again ascended and 

 spawned, and second the kelts which have never left 

 the fresh water. 



In comparing the first class we have the possibility 

 of noticing, better than at any other time in the fish's 

 history, the actual net increase of weight, since at 

 both times of observation the fish is reduced to the 

 same condition. Clean fish vary in weight according 

 to the time they have been in fresh water, and the 

 state of their nutrition or genitalia. In the sea they 

 are still possibly increasing in weight, and their 

 record is in this respect incomplete ; in fresh water 

 they are losing weight. Unfortunately it happens 

 that recaptures of this kind are scarce, and at the 

 best rather conflicting. Of course, the catching of 

 kelts is not pursued in any sense as is the catching 

 of salmon. Nothing is to be made out of a kelt 

 when he is caught. I might first mention two 

 Brora fish which have evidently spawned annually 

 for three consecutive years : — 



fb^ lb. 28" Kelt Fern. Mar. 15, 1902 Loch Brora 

 '^"^^{8 „ 34" Kelt Fern. Mar. 28, 1904 Loch Brora 



(4. lb. 25" Kelt Fern. Apr. 20, 1901 Loch Brora, a grilse 

 7298 |g^ ^^ 3Qi^„ ;g-g^^ -pem. Mar. 18, 1903 Loch Brora, a salmon 



In the former the increase is 2|-, in the latter 

 2|-lb. ; the interval is practically two years in each 

 case. Two examples of Deveron fish show better 

 increment : — 



/12 lb. 36" Kelt Fem. Feb. 22, 1901 Deveron 

 ^^•^^116,, 38i" Kelt Fem. Mar. 14, 1902 Deveron 



/16 lb. 37" Kelt Fem. Feb. 13, 1903 Deveron, Muiresk 

 ^^^^|22| „ 42" Kelt Fem. March 1904 Deveron, found dead 



1;^ mile above mouth 



