SUMMARY OF REPORT 271 



sea ; and that vliey leave the river when about 

 eighteen months old, generally taking their de- 

 parture in May. 



That the time of the departure of smolts is 

 regulated by their getting their scales, and so 

 being able to undergo the change to the salt 

 water ; and that the increasing temperature of the 

 fresh water acts as a still further inducement for 

 them to depart. 



That the male parr has milt fully matured, but 

 that the female has never been known to possess 

 ova. 



That parr never go to the sea, but that they 

 are at times forced down by floods into the tide- 

 way. 



That smolts marked in the Tweed have been 

 recaptured there and in different rivers, having 

 within the space of a year changed to grilse. 



That salmon take the artificial fly for some 

 living thing for food, probably a shrimp. 



There are many other questions of interest in 

 the report, but I have selected only those which 

 have a direct bearing on the habits and ways of 

 salmon, and with which every salmon fisherman 

 should be acquainted. It may, however, interest 

 the reader to learn that the average rate of pro- 

 gress made by salmon in their passage up-stream 

 is about three miles an hour. This rate of speed 

 is rarely ever increased, save under the most 



