THE SCALES OF THE SALMON ID^ 259 



It is a recognized fact that kelts, whether completely 

 spent or partially spent, will remain as kelts for many 

 months, and will as such, re-ascend their own or other 

 rivers from three to five months after being marked. 



I gather from a letter which appeared in the Fishing Gazette 

 (pages 591-2, December 27th, 1913) that Mr. J. Arthur 

 Hutton considers that the wearing or disintegration of the 

 scales is not necessarily due to the act of spawning, nor to 

 its continuation in fresh water, but that it can take place in 

 the sea as well as in the river. 



I am perfectly prepared to accept the view advanced 

 by Mr. Hutton that disintegration of the scale of a hen fish 

 may precede the act of spawning but if it be so, how can 

 such decrepitation be regarded as the sign manual of spawning. 

 That the scale of a male fish may become worn prior 

 to spawning is a recognized fact, and from Mr. Hutton's 

 dictum I have no doubt that, at any rate to a modified 

 extent, decrepitation is shown on the scales of a female fish 

 prior to its spawning. 



In order that this popular point of view as stated by Mr. 

 Hutton, cannot be misunderstood, I venture to quote from 

 his letter mentioned above : 



" As regards the question put by your salmon- 

 angling friend as to late autumn fish which rush 

 into the river to spawn and back again, there is 

 a paper of mine coming out shortly in the 

 Salmon and Trout Magazine on this subject ; and 

 as a matter of fact the wearing of the scale does not 

 take place solely in fresh water, and fish do get, as 

 some know, absolutely red and discoloured in the 

 sea. In other words the wearing of the scales is not 

 due to the fish being in fresh water but is largely 

 caused by the building up of the genital organs. 

 It will therefore be evident that a late run fish 

 might have scales as disintegrated as one that had 

 entered the river much earlier." 



