54 NATUEAL HISTOEY OF THE SALMON. 



THIED SPAWNING, 1855. 



On the 22d of November, 1855, the third 

 spawning of the fish commenced, and continued 

 until the 16th December, at the same place the 

 junction of the river Almond with the Tay and, 

 as the previous year had been a failure, Mr 

 Ramsbottom was present to officiate. The total 

 number of boxes filled on this occasion was 183, 

 each box holding about 1000 ova. Mr T. Ash- 

 worth of Poynton was present at the operation. 

 One of the male salmon taken on this occasion 

 had been caught and marked by Mr Eamsbottom, 

 in 1853, and had returned again to spawn at the 

 same place. The first of the fry of this hatching 

 came to life on the 3d of April, 1856 the rest 

 from eight to fourteen days afterwards. 



FIKST SALMON OF THE SPAWNING OF 1853. 



On Saturday, the 1st March, 1856, the first 

 salmon belonging to the hatching of 1854 was 

 reported by Mr Young, fisherman, as caught by 

 him. This fish weighed 10 J Ibs. We have no 

 doubt, as we shall hereafter endeavour to prove, 

 that this spring fish had not ascended the river 

 the previous year as a grilse, but had remained 

 all the winter in the sea. On the 8th of May 



