208 ON THE GROWTH OF THE SALMON. 



fewer than five hundred, all busy in the shallow streams 

 and spawning-beds, perpetrating havoc to an incalcu- 

 lable extent, among the defenceless fry. Multitudes, 

 however, escape, finding refuge under stones, &c. 



In reference, however, to what I have stated regard- 

 ing the parr of Tweed, namely, that they descend to 

 the sea in the shape of smolts, as yearlings, it will be 

 asked : What then do I say to the experiments of Mr. 

 S., which prove that the parr, after being hatched, con- 

 tinue nearly two years in the fresh water ? This fact, 

 as falling under observation at the ponds in Nithsdale, 

 may be explained by the circumstance that the subjects 

 under test were kept in a state of comparative confine- 

 ment, their growth stinted, and their instincts over- 

 ruled. I recollect in Teviot, some years ago, there 

 being no spring or summer floods sufficient to carry the 

 smolts over the cauld dykes, vast numbers of them 

 were compelled to remain in the river until late in July, 

 and at particular spots, congregated in great shoals. 

 In the pool above Sunlaws Mill, one of the best ang- 

 ling portions of the water, they were so plentiful that 

 it was impossible to cast for trout without their inter- 

 ference. Every hook in fact, the instant it touched the 

 surface, became occupied by one of these fish, so that 

 the usual inhabitants of the pool had no chance of 

 rising at it. Although by far the greater portion of 

 the smolts in question were what are termed orange- 

 fins, or sea-trout fry, still, a considerable number were 

 the true salmon or parr-smolts, having the pectoral fins 

 tinged with black. These continued in the river, as I 

 have said, until late in July, and exhibited, as regarded 

 their scales, no great change, but became, with few 

 exceptions, lean and feeble, a result naturally to be 

 expected from the fact, independent of other causes, of 



