118 NATURAL HISTOKY OF THE SALMON. 



parrs about two inches long were seen, but as 

 there was nothing to prevent them from descend- 

 ing the stream into the salt water, no doubt the 

 most of them did so and met their fate. The 

 experiment wanted much to insure success, and 

 of course proved a failure. 



In the spring of 1860 we went and examined 

 these ponds, and having anew covered the mouth 

 of the sea pipe with galvanised wire grating 

 sufficiently small to retain a smoult, we selected 

 five smoults which were reared at Stormontfield 

 from salmon ova. One of them was four years 

 old it was three years old before it became a 

 smoult, as mentioned previously, and had only 

 grown, although well fed with boiled liver, to 

 eight inches in length. The four others were 

 two year old smoults from five to six inches in 

 length. With a considerable deal of trouble, by 

 having seven changes of water ready at the 

 stations the distance to be carried by rail being 

 about sixty miles we got the fish safely put into 

 the salt water pond in excellent health. When 

 put in they swam slowly for a few minutes 

 amongst the brackish water at the side, and 

 shortly afterwards they darted into the pure sea 

 water. The pond at this time was swarming 



