SALMON. 19 



in the famed " Maga " an account of experiments made 

 by himself, all tending to confirm my theory. I suppose 

 it would have been better for my credit had I abstained 

 from any colloquy with the said James, which appears 

 not to have been particularly entertaining ; for lately, 

 upon asking my friend Sir Adam Ferguson if he re- 

 collected the circumstance, " Perfectly well," said he, 

 " and it was at your own table ; but I cannot say who 

 had the best of the argument, as I fell asleep soon after 

 it began." 



But indeed I had not resided long on the banks of 

 the Tweed, before I came to the conclusion that the 

 Parr was not a distinct species, but, as I have said, 

 was actually the young of the Salmon ; and very many 

 years ago, long before Mr. Shaw's experiments, Mr. 

 Kennedy having brought in a bill for the better pre- 

 servation of the salmon fisheries, I wrote to him the 

 following letter, which I transcribe from the first 

 draught, which I preserved : — 



" Pavilion, Melrose. 



« Sir, 



" Your Salmon Bill being in progress, permit me to 

 have the honour of addressing you on a point that is 

 at present overlooked, and that you will at once per- 

 ceive is of vital importance to its successful operation. 



" It is a fact, that whilst the legislature has imposed 

 penalties for the destruction of Smolts or Salmon fry, 

 not only those whose duty it is to put the law in 

 force, but the public, and even fishermen themselves, 

 cannot ascertain what these are at all seasons of the 

 year. On the contrary, for most part of the year they 



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