66 Angling Travels in Norway. 



river, appropriating for resting-places the very rocks and 

 stones which, in bigger waters, were shelters for salmon; 

 they freely take the fly or minnow, and fight well. 



For the first month or so of the angling season, when 

 the melting snow and ice throughout the highlands of 

 the watershed maintain the rivers in good ply, salmon 

 keep running up with every tide, naturally gaining the 

 rivers in greater numbers during the weekly close- time 

 for netting ; but when the snow is exhausted, a few will 

 run up only during the close-time, or if there be rain. 



From the commencement of the angling season the 

 rivers are remarkably free of kelts ; indeed, these are as 

 scarce as smolts, and, in my opinion, for one and the 

 same reason. 



I calculate that the smolt is prepared to descend the 

 rivers early in May, while the kelt certainly is so, and 

 both desire a flood to permit of their departure ; thus, as 

 water suflicient for the purpose is certain to occur at latest 

 soon after the end of April, both smolt and kelt take 

 advantage of the first opportunity. 



I am certain that in some waters of the British Isles 

 the existence of smolts causes delay in the return of kelts 

 to the sea, and by the early removal of smolts the induce- 

 ment does not exist. 



The pylorics of the salmon fresh from the sea, via fjord 

 and river, are extended with fat, or perhaps I should say 



