274 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



and rounded, and also we may assume from this fact that 

 probably this fish has but recently entered the river. It 

 shows that had this fish not been captured it would have 

 spawned or attempted to spawn in the following season, 

 i.e., winter of the year in which it was captured. It also 

 shows that the bands added to the scale after decrepitation 

 has occurred do not invariably show a falling off in size 

 during the winter season but that even on the same scale 

 their size, as well as their number, varies considerably 

 during this period. 



AN EXAMINATION OF A SALMON'S SCALE, PLATE XXXI. 



Taking the scale at A, we find that the bands added since 

 the last decrepitations are evenly graduated in size the 

 large bands for the feeding and the smaller ones for the 

 fasting period, and also that they are in number approaching 

 the sixteen-ring theory. 



Taking the same scale at B, we find the same number of 

 rings, but all small and of a similar size. 



Taking the same scale at C, we find about sixteen additional 

 rings, but very little evidence of a cessation of feeding. 



Taking the scale at D, we find ten such rings at the most, 

 and no evidence of cessation of feeding until we reach the 

 extreme edge. 



Taking the scale at E, we find ten rings have been added, 

 all of them being about equal in size. 



These variations in the number at least of the added 

 scale bands, cannot be due to decrepitation, for the smooth 

 outer edge of the scale shows that no denudation has taken 

 place. 



Again, if the reader will count the markings between the 

 third and fourth year, he will see that, instead of sixteen 

 rings, over thirty rings have been added, though between 

 them and the time the fish became a kelt there are only 



