SALMON 251 



that are permitted to ascend the river, the stock must become 

 nearly exterminated. 



The ova of spring fish are not so exposed to danger, for 

 high up in the rivers and in their tributaries a flood has nothing 

 like the force of the resistless torrent formed below by the 

 accumulation of many waters. 



It is to be regretted numerous observant anglers permit 

 themselves to preface most of their favourite theories, or 

 hobbies, by saying, " I am perfectly certain," for on the matter 

 of salmon-lore, surmises, suggestions, and theories are more 

 numerous than facts, and thus it is I have met with those who 

 are "perfectly certain" it would be better if all kelts were 

 killed, the "certainty" in this case being that the kelts devour 

 such quantities of trout, par, and smolts as to render their 

 preservation undesirable, while they are also looked upon as 

 the source of all disease. 



Now the evidence that kelts do systematically eat small fish 

 is of the very weakest description, for though I have heard the 

 same so often stated as at one time to believe it myself, yet 

 I have never been able to come across any keeper or river 

 watcher who could say he had detected them in the act, for 

 at the time they are supposed to devour all these little fish the 

 kelts are usually lying in shallow waters, in which they could 

 not pursue their prey in the same manner as a pike does, with- 

 out at once being observed. That they will take a spinning 

 par or trout at odd times is no proof that they pass the whole of 

 the days of their kelthood in devouring them. A fresh-run 

 salmon will be quite as likely to seize such a lure, for there is 

 no doubt that salmon of all kinds will frequendy swallow any 

 small fish incautiously placing itself over their very noses. 

 Therefore, the evidence we possess on the question of the 

 voracity of the kelts is rather more in their favour than against 

 them. Also, the laws of nature have clearly ordained that the 

 kelts should live to make many journeys to and from the sea 

 during their lifetime, and under such circumstances I feel some- 



