STOKMONTFIELD EXPEEIMENT. 47 



subsequently, how it was that so many of the 

 pond fish had got on the smoult scales, if not 

 ready to go to sea? Mr Shaw said that all parrs 

 at this season put on these scales but threw them 

 off again. We replied that this was not in accord- 

 ance with our experience. We again asked Mr 

 Shaw if none of the pond fish would seek to go 

 to sea? He said some might go, but not many; 

 although he had seen them go the first year. The 

 Committee then left, and the keeper was ordered 

 to retain the fish in the pond; but some of the 

 tacksmen of the salmon fishings on the Tay, who 

 were present, were so convinced that the fish were 

 smoults, that they threatened not to pay their 

 rents if the smoults were not allowed to go. 



FIKST MIGKATION OF THE SMOULTS, 1855. 



On the 19th of May, Mr Buist becoming con- 

 vinced that the fry had become smoults, i.e., had 

 taken on the silvery scales, caused a great many 

 to be marked by cutting off the dead or second 

 dorsal fin, and turning them into the river. The 

 sluice was drawn, and the fish were allowed to 

 depart; but, contrary to expectation, almost none 

 showed any inclination to leave until the 24th of 

 May, when the exodus began, and a shoal came 



