THE SMOLT 159 



He is slimmer, more graceful and more beautifully 

 bright than the troutlet, but with the exception of the 

 posterior or adipose fin, which has, unlike that of the 

 trout, no shade of vermilion edging it, he is similar 

 to a troutlet of a like size. The transverse finger-marks 

 common to the parr, about eleven in number, are 

 frequently found on young trout, while the bright 

 vermilion spots so dearly beloved by all trout fishermen 

 are previous to the smolt stage of the salmon also 

 common to both fish. 



The food during the parr period consists of the 

 water-insect life surrounding him (both in its swimming 

 and flying existence), the young of other fish, worms, 

 small eels, and water shrimps ; and when the supply 

 is plentiful he will have gradually grown, until in the 

 following spring his length is from 5 to 7 inches, and 

 his weight from 2J to 3J ounces. 



THE SMOLT 



In the first, second, or third spring succeeding his 

 appearance as an alevin a gradual change takes place 

 in the parr as his smolt stage approaches. He seldom 

 rises at a fly, his appetite appears to cease, and his body 

 gradually becomes covered with silvery scales. The 

 beautiful markings disappear beneath this new and 

 protective armour, and during these spring months he 

 and the other parr who have also changed their appear- 

 ance and entered the smolt stage, urged by that 

 instinct which has so far guided them in safety, turn 



