266 ROD AND RIVER 



other animals feeding on it, such as bull-trout, 

 river-trout, wild-duck, water-ousels, or the grub 

 of the may-fly ? 



A. Bull-trout, and ducks both tame and wild 

 tame especially destroy the ova. 



22. Q. When do the several kinds of salmon, 

 after spawning, leave the river for the sea ? 



A. As a general rule, during the month of 

 April. 



23. Q. Do salmon frequently return to the sea 

 without spawning, and if so, from what distance 

 up the rivers, etc. ? 



A. They do not frequently return to the sea 

 without having spawned. When they do so, it 

 w r ould not be from a greater distance up the river 

 than some ten miles or so. 



24. Q. When either smolts or kelts descend 

 the river, do they, before quitting it for the sea, 

 remain for some time stationary about the tide- 

 way, and if so, for what purpose ? 



A. Smolts and kelts, especially the former, 

 remain in the tideway for some few days, in order 

 to inure themselves to the salt water. 



25. Q. What changes in size, colour, and marks 

 do the fry undergo before they leave the river for 

 the sea ? 



A. They lose the bar-marks, get their scales, 

 increase in size to some four or five inches in 

 length, and their pectoral fins become darker. 



