GROWTH OF GRILSE 41 



The above disparity of growth is easily accounted 

 for, since it is not probable that these fish, which 

 were caught and returned to the river in February, 

 went down to the sea before March, if, indeed, so 

 early : of course they would not increase in growth 

 in fresh water, though they would mend somewhat 

 in weight after their weak spawning state. Setting 

 these, therefore, aside, it appears that the growth of 

 the last four fish averaged two pounds each per 

 month when they were at sea ; and if they remained 

 in the river after the 4th of March, as it is reason- 

 able to suppose they did, then their growth must 

 have been proportionally greater. 



For the scientific and successful experiments of 

 Mr. Shaw, the Keith Medal was awarded to him 

 for the biennial period of 1838 and 1839 : it is of 

 gold, and of the intrinsic value of sixty guineas. 



The importance of his proof is immense ; for the 

 parrs not having been before considered to be young 

 salmon, have not been hitherto protected by the 

 law beyond the short period in which they assume 

 their silver dress, and thus have been killed by 

 hundreds of thousands, by the multitude of boys 

 and men who angle in the various tributary burns 

 and rivers that pour their waters into the Tweed. 



Mr. John Wilson says, in his evidence before 

 the Select Committee, taken in 1824 "I have 

 seen from my own window upwards of seventy or 

 eighty people angling within the distance of half a 

 mile on the Tweed." Then there is the Tiviot ; 

 the Adder, comprising the White Adder and Black 

 Adder ; the Till, the Eden, the Kale, the Oxnam, 

 the Jed, the Ale, the Rule, the Slitrig, the Gala, 



