254 THE COUNTRY CLERGYMAN. 



five pounds in the same number of months from 

 the time of the ova being hatched ; but kipper 

 salmon, which have been taken, marked, and re- 

 turned to the river, are stated to have increased in 

 size in a still more rapid proportion when they 

 have been retaken. The above mentioned facts 

 will also serve to prove that these fish return to 

 their native rivers in preference to others, and it 

 may therefore be presumed that they do not make 

 very extensive migrations in the sea. 



It is a fact, perhaps not generally known to 

 anglers, that both salmon and sea trout will take 

 the fly freely in salt water. Dr. Hastings said that 

 when he first heard this, he was inclined to doubt 

 it, but he had requested a nobleman of his acquaint- 

 ance, who had been on a fishing excursion into the 

 highlands of Scotland, to ascertain the fact, and 

 he had received the following communication from 

 him on this, and other interesting subjects relating 

 to the natural history of the place he visited. 



* This place is singularly adapted for the studies 

 ' of sportsmen, and dabblers in natural history. I 

 ' found on my arrival here, that the fact of salmon 

 ' and sea trout taking the fly in salt water is known, 

 ' and that some friends of mine had verified it by 

 * their experience. There is a report here that Sir 

 ' Humphrey Davy was the first person who made 

 4 the experiment with success. If this be the fact, 

 4 some notice of it will surely be found in " Sal- 



