SMOLTS 23 



Appendix III. In December those silvery fish were 

 not found, nor was there evidence from the netting 

 during January and February that any migratory 

 smolts were present. On March 27, 1906, however, 

 fifty parr and smolts were taken, many of which were 

 about 5|- inches long (the extremes were 4 '6 cm. to 

 14 cm.), and in appearance approximating to the 

 ordinary spring smolts. We have no positive 

 evidence, however, that those March smolts were 

 entering the sea, and it may be that they were 

 representatives of parr which, like the 8 per cent, of 

 the Stormontfield fish which were reported to have 

 descended after only one year in fresh water (the 

 ponds), have reached and have remained in those 

 upper tidal waters for some time, and which would 

 probably be amongst the earliest to leave for the sea 

 after a second year. This view is strengthened by 

 an examination of their scales made by Mr. H. W. 

 Johnston, which showed that the fish were " rising 

 two years." Throughout this smolt netting I could 

 find no evidence that one-year-old fish left the river 

 for the sea or assumed an appearance suggestive of 

 their descent before they were two years old. 



With the departure of the smolts for the sea we 

 may regard the first stage of the salmon's life as 

 completed. Up to this time the life has been in fresh 

 water, where observation on man's part is less diffi- 

 cult than in the sea. The earliest reappearance of 

 the fish in fresh water is as a grilse, and the study 

 of the intervening period of marine life has till 

 recently proved too difficult for most who have 

 attempted it. 



