106 DISPARITY IN SIZE OF FISH. [CHAP. m. 



" Peter of the Pools " (Mr. Buist) says that what strikes a 

 stranger who visits the ponds most is the great disparity in the 

 size of fish of the same age, the difference of which can only 

 be that of a few weeks, as all were hatched by the month of 

 May. That there are strong and weak fry from the moment 

 that they burst the covering admits not of a doubt, and that 

 the early fish may very speedily be singled out from among 

 the late ones is also quite certain. In the course of a few 

 weeks the smolts that are to leave at the end of the first year 

 can be noted. The keeper's opinion is that at feeding-time 

 the weak are kept back by the strong, and therefore are not 

 likely to thrive so fast as those that get a larger portion of the 

 food ; he lays great stress on feeding, and his opinion on that 

 subject is entitled to consideration. 



At the time of the visit alluded to one of the ponds (the 

 original one) was swarming with young salmon hatched out in 

 March and April 1864, the eggs having been placed in the 

 boxes in November and December 1863. Half of these would 

 depart from the ponds as smolts during May 1865 ; the other 

 half, I suppose, would be transferred to the new pond, as there 

 is direct communication with both of the ponds from the canal 

 at the foot of the suite of breeding-boxes, which have been 

 lately renewed and improved. The requirements of spawning 

 only once in two seasons have not been strictly observed of 

 late years, so that eggs were laid down in both the years 1862 

 and 1863. In the former of those years the ova laid down 

 were 250,000, and in 1863 about 80,000 ; indeed, no more 

 could be obtained, in consequence of the river being in an un- 

 favourable state for capturing the gravid fish. 



The guiding of the smolts from the ponds to the river is 

 easily managed through the provision made at Stormontfield 

 for that purpose, and which consists of a runlet lined with 

 wood, protected at the pond by a perforated zinc sluice, and 

 terminating near the river in a kind of reception-chamber, 



