50 NATUEAL HISTOEY OF THE SALMON. 



the mark had been caught, and carefully exa- 

 mined by him, besides as many reported but not 

 brought to him; and, but for the aversion shown 

 by the fishermen to the experiment, he felt cer- 

 tain many more would have been reported. In 

 order to induce the fishermen to bring the marked 

 fish to Mr Buist, he caused the following notice 

 to be circulated amongst them: "A number of 

 the smoults from Stormontfield breeding-pond 

 having been marked by cutting the dead fin in a 

 certain way, notice is hereby given, that 2s per Ib. 

 will be paid for each of the first five grilses that 

 may be brought, so marked, to Mr Buist's office. 

 The above price will be paid on its being satis- 

 factorily ascertained that the mark corresponds 

 with that made on the smoults. Perth, 12th 

 July, 1855." This was a tempting reward; and, 

 as was expected, would induce some of the men to 

 counterfeit the mark, and such was the case. A 

 fisherman caught a grilse, and having cut off the 

 dead fin, found that the raw wound would be 

 easily detected; and, in order to disguise the part, 

 he took a portion of the skin from off another 

 grilse and put it over the place in the best man- 

 ner he could; but Mr Buist instantly detected 

 the cheat. In fact, it would be impossible to 



