SALMON 41 



have already described. They return also to sea in 

 the spring with the Salmon. It seems worthy of 

 remark, that Salmon are oftentimes smaller than 

 moderate sized Gilse ; but although such Gilse have 

 only been once to sea, yet the period they have re- 

 mained there must have exceeded the two short 

 visits made by the small Salmon, and hence their 

 superiority of size. 



When these fish return to the river from their 

 second visit to the sea, they are called Salmon, and 

 are greatly altered in their shape and appearance ; 

 the body is more full, and the tail less forked, and 

 their countenance assumes a different aspect.* 



It has formerly been suggested that the Gilse was 

 a separate species from the Salmon ; but they have 

 been proved to be one and the same by very con- 

 clusive testimony. Many years ago, when I was on 

 the Tweed, two were put in a salt pond by Mr. 

 Berry : one of them was found dead, and supposed 

 to have killed himself by rushing against a stake ; 

 the other was taken out some time afterwards a com- 

 plete Salmon. But I shall mention a recent experi- 

 ment, made by a tacksman on the Duke of Suther- 

 land's salmon fishings on the river Shin. 



In the course of February and March, 1841, he 

 took a considerable number of Gilses, and marked 

 them with wire in various places sufficiently effica- 

 cious to be again recognised. Of these, ten were 

 retaken in the course of the months of June and July 



* For the latest theories as to the return of salmon from the sea, 

 as shown by the scales, cf. Introduction. The " gilse," by the way, 

 is now usually known as grilse. (ED.) 



