oo DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



to sea. They are easily distinguished from Salmon by 

 their countenance and less plump appearance, and 

 particularly by the diminished size of the part of the 

 body next to the tail, which also is more forked than 

 that of the Salmon. They remain in fresh water all 

 the autumn and winter, and spawn at the same time 

 with the Salmon, and in the manner which I 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 remained 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 conclusive testi- 

 mony. 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 complete Salmon. But I shall men- 

 tion a recent experiment, made by a tacksman on the 

 Duke of Sutherland's salmon fishings on the river 

 Shin. 



In the course of February and March, 1841, he took 



