22 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING 



the sea in the May of the same season, and that they 

 are of a pure silver colour, as indeed more or less 

 they are. Now in all salmon rivers Parrs are to be 

 found in abundance throughout the summer, and 

 early in the spring ; and in the summer they are not 

 of a silver colour, but marked with red spots, and 

 are shaded with vertical bars on their sides at 

 intervals. From the appearance of these bars, 

 they are very generally supposed to be of a 

 distinct species from the Smolt. Permit me to 

 give my reasons for entertaining a contrary 

 opinion. 



" After May the large Parrs totally disappear, 

 and such few as may be found afterwards are very 

 small ; but as the summer advances they become 

 larger, and in the spring following the bars and red 

 spots above mentioned gradually die away, and a 

 stronger armour or scale supervenes ; and as that 

 is more or less advanced in growth, the bars and 

 spots are more or less visible. 



" When they are in this silvery state, that is, 

 when the new scales are perfected, they become 

 what are called Smolts or Salmon fry ; but by 

 removing such new scales, you will find the bars 

 and spots of the Parr underneath as clear and vivid 

 as ever. I have therefore a positive conviction that 

 the Salmon fry, instead of falling down to the sea 

 the same year they are produced, remain in the river, 

 under the name of Parrs, till the year following.* 

 That they increase little in size we cannot be sur- 



* Mr. Shaw has since proved that they remain in fresh water 

 still longer. 



