226 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK 



species, is no other than a young Salmon. This he demon- 

 strated conclusively by scraping away the silvery scales of 

 the Smolt for half the length of its body and exhibiting the 

 red spots and bars of the so-called "Parr," still distinctly 

 painted beneath, on the skin. In his " Days and Nights of 

 Salmon Fishing," can be found a beautifully colored engraving 

 of a Smolt, with half of its body denuded of the scales, show- 

 ing that it had not entirely parted with its beautiful vesture 

 of red spots and bars, but had only concealed it with the 

 silvery coat of its progenitors. The spots and bars which 

 remain beneath the scales, are only obliterated by its first 

 visit to sea — during its transition from the Smolt to the Grilse 

 state. 



The usual manner of designating the different stages of 

 growth and changes in the condition of the Salmon is thus : — 



As long as it bears the red spots and finger-marks, it is 

 known as " Pink," " Salmon-fry," " Samlet," and is sometimes 

 yet called " Parr." When it puts on the bright coat prepara- 

 tory to going to sea for the first time, it is called a " Smolt." 

 After its return, it is a " Grilse." After its second migration, 

 it is a " Salmon," and is ever after so called. 



A Salmon just from the sea is called a fresh-run fish, when 

 it generally has parasites, called sea-lice, adhering to different 

 parts of its body and in its gills. After it has been long 

 enough in fresh water to lose its silvery appearance, it is 

 called a "Blackfish." After spawning it is a "Kelt," or 

 " Foul" fish. 



Let us turn back, now, to the young fish at the time it be- 

 came a Smolt. The ''Book of the Salmon" says that the 

 greater portion of Smolts descend the rivers of Scotland in 

 April and May, and implies that they continue— though in 

 smaller numbers — to go to sea all summer, and even until 

 autumn. This naturally occurs where the spawning season is 



