60 THE NATURAL HISTORY AND HABITS 



of what was formerly called " par " was the young of 

 the salmon ; and those familiar with the salmon fry 

 in all its stages from the egg to the smolt, could easily 

 distinguish them from the other young and old small 

 species of fish that frequent all salmon rivers in one 

 particular : the young of the salmon in all their stages 

 has fins large in proportion to the body, whereas the 

 other small full-grown fishes of their size have fins in 

 proportion, and look altogether like an old fish, and 

 these may be got in rivers not frequented by salmon, 

 and above falls where no salmon ever penetrate. 

 This altogether is the misunderstanding about the 

 par and fry. One part asserts that the small fish still 

 in the rivers, and resembling the young salmon, have a 

 right to retain the name of par, as the others, at last, 

 were found out to be what was not suspected. With 

 this part I am much inclined to agree, and to allow 

 the young of the salmon to retain the name of fry and 

 smolts, as acknowledged by all and sundry of our 

 Scottish acts ; for if one prosecuted for their destruc- 

 tion under any of these acts, we find the act as a pre- 

 cedent ; but if we proceed in a court of law, under the 

 name of " par," I am doubtful of the result if the case 

 were opposed. The other part asserts that the " par " 

 is the young of the salmon ; this is also true, that the 

 young of the salmon were supposed par, but, in talking 

 of the fry, they say the " par " of the salmon, which, 

 according to all former established titles, is an un- 

 meaning name. However, now what is meant by 

 " the par of the salmon " is understood by all parties ; 

 and for simple purposes it signifies but little whether 

 the young of the salmon get the new or the old name ; 

 perhaps the new one is the most fashionable, if we 

 could get it incorporated into the act for their pre- 

 servation. 



As soon as the smolts fully assume their migratory 



