GRILSE 115 



set purpose, looking on the chance of hooking 

 a 20-pounder as a matter to be dealt with if 

 and when it may occur. 



And in truth the grilse are one of the most 

 important factors in our problem. With our 

 minds set on a higher quarry we may some- 

 times regard their prevalence as a plague ; 

 but they are the vigorous youth of the salmon 

 race, and with them is the future. 



In the books of reference, the grilse is de- 

 fined as a salmon on its first return from the 

 sea, before it has spawned. Sceptical Mr. 

 Willis Bund may have some fault to find with 

 this, but it is accurate enough for practical 

 purposes. One would have supposed that the 

 connection between grilse and salmon was by 

 this time sufficiently established ; but I learn this 

 year that some of the net-owners, who are trying 

 to get the size of the mesh reduced, still maintain 

 that they are distinct species. A hundred and 

 fifty years ago Pontoppidan wrote : 



"The Tart, or Pinke, is a small kind of 

 Salmon, and differs but very little from the 

 common kind, except it be in size ; for it is 

 not as big as the Salmon when full grown. 



" It is therefore considered as a particular 



