HO THE SMOLT EXODUS OF 1861. [CHAP. in. 



breeding-boxes in the spawning season of 1862 (November 

 and December) Avas about 250,000 ; and in 1863 not more 



fish were formerly caught and' marked. When the party arrived they 

 found a good many of the fish in the reservoir, being those which had 

 sought egress during the night. The sinolts were large and in fine 

 condition ; and one fish, which has been detained for three years for 

 the purpose of discovering whether the species will grow in fresh water 

 without being permitted to visit the sea, was found to be fully twice 

 the size of the largest smolt. A number of parrs, too, of the same 

 age as the smolts, and spawned of the same parents, w r ere found about 

 the size of minnows, and bearing the parr-niark distinctly defined. On 

 seeing the state of matters, Mr. Buist gave instructions for removing 

 the sluices, and allowing those bent on migration to have their liberty 

 without being marked this season. A considerable number at once 

 sought the river, and no impediment will now be placed in the way of 

 a free migration. The ova of which the present fry is the produce were 

 placed in the boxes at various times during the period from 15th 

 November to 13th December 1859 ; and the departure of the smolts 

 commenced on the 18th instant. The whole fry amounting, it is 

 estimated, to somewhat approaching 200,000 fish is the produce of 19 

 male and 31 female salmon. The anomaly of one-half of the fry 

 reaching the condition of smolts, and leaving the ponds when only 

 a year old, and the other half remaining, has been hitherto supposed to 

 be accounted for upon the supposition of the earlier fish being the 

 produce of salmon, while the later were that of grilse. The experiment 

 of this year sets that question at rest by negativing the supposition. 

 Mr. Buist gave orders in November 1859 that none but salmon should 

 be taken for the purposes of the ponds. The result is the same anomaly. 

 Although all the fry this year in the ponds are the produce of salmon, 

 as is usual only a moiety of them have yet attained to the condition of 

 smolts, while the remainder have all the appearance of continuing 

 parrs as before. This is perhaps the most important feature in the 

 operations of the year. In the early part of the year 1860, from the 

 unfavourable nature of the season for hatching, the whole brood seemed 

 particularly stunted and ill-grown, and it was hardly expected that 

 any of them would become smolts this year at all. About a month 

 ago, however, early fears were dispelled ; a goodly portion of the fry 

 began to approach the smolt state, and since the beginning of May 

 have been putting on their silvery livery, and now are fully as far 

 advanced as those in the open river." 



