THE SCALES OF SALMON 105 



early or in late summer or autumn, the variation being 

 from 7 to 24 lines. If in this second year the fish 

 remains feeding in the sea — the long migration habit 

 — the addition, in the case of Tay fish, may be from 20 

 to 31 fines. If thereafter the fish enters the river 

 as a summer fish, very few additional lines may be 

 added at the commencement of the third year, though 

 a later fish may show 12 or 1 5 lines. If in this third 

 summer the fish still does not enter the river, but 

 delays till the following winter or spring, 17 to 28 

 lines may be added in the sea. 



From the evidence at command it appears to be 

 somewhat unusual for a fish to remain till its fourth 

 sea year without spawning, but a few instances are 

 on record. Fish which on recapture are from 30 to 

 35 lb. show either five or six years' growth on the 

 scales after the smolt condition, and have spawned 

 either once or twice. A record of a 42 lb. fish shows 

 six years' sea life, or in other words is eight years old 

 and has spawned twice. The fact that the recapture 

 was made in fresh water points to the conclusion 

 that spawning, or rather reproduction of the species 

 (for the majority of those large fish are males), would 

 be engaged in for a third and probably last time. 



The few records of marked fish which have been 

 recaptured when 40 lb. or more than this weight 

 have, from the information gained from marking 

 alone, been set down as of eight years old, and in 

 this connection ib is interesting to recollect that 

 trout kept in rearing ponds for hatchery purposes 

 are found to become poor as regards fertility after 

 their eighth year. 



