134 AMERICAN FISH CULTURE. 



in the nursery beds and ponds for about two years and 

 three months as smolts, and then turned into the river per- 

 fectly ready for sea. It was from the above lot of smolts 

 we marked TOO in March, 1862, and which have during 

 the season just passed returned as grilse, being now a little 

 over three and a half years old.* I am also happy to in- 

 form you that I have just received a note from my son to 

 say that he has for the first time seen grilse on the spawn- 

 ing-beds of the river at Doohulla. 



" That your readers may more clearly understand, I 

 append a table of the dates : 



" 18,000 ova deposited in 1859. 



" Ova hatched February, 1860. 



" Fry kept in nursery ponds until May, 1862, being 

 nursed for two years and three months ; but I would here 

 remark that a few of the fry, and only a few, appeared to 

 be ready for sea when about thirteen months old. 



" Turned out of nursery ponds ready for sea, May, 1862. 



" Returned as grilse (after being at sea from thirteen to 

 fifteen months) in June, July, and August, 1863. 



" You will see that when the first grilse returned (in 

 June), it must have been three years and four months old." 



It will be seen from the foregoing how small a stream 

 can be made exceedingly productive if net-fishing is pro- 



* It will be seen by this, that it will sometimes require three years 

 and a half from the time of hatching to produce a grilse. On the 

 contrary, a smolt may go to sea when something over a year old, 

 and return, a grilse, in two months ; making at least, two years 

 and four months difference in the time of maturity. 



