Q2 SALMON FISHING. 



the spring of the following year as a small 

 Salmon."* 



The smolt, whether it comes back in the grilse 

 or Salmon state, and the mature Salmon also, 

 spawn usually about November or December, and 

 go back to the sea as a spent-fish, or " kelts," 

 in February or March ; ordinarily returning during 

 the following four or five months as " clean" 

 fish, and increased in weight from seven to ten 

 pounds. 



Shortly before spawning, and whilst returning 

 to the sea as " kelts," Salmon are considered 

 " foul fish" unfit for food and their capture is 

 then illegal. " Foul fish" before spawning are, if 

 males, termed " red fish," from the orange-coloured 

 stripes with which their gill-covers are marked, 

 and the golden orange tint of the body ; the 

 females are darker in colour and are called 

 " black fish." After spawning the males are 

 called " Kippers," and the females " Shedders," 

 or " Baggits." The History of the Salmon- 



* The circumstance of the non-return of the Smolt in all 

 cases during the first year, and the theory of the spawning of 

 Salmon in alternate years, is now very generally received 

 amongst naturalists. It was first propounded by the author 

 in the Times in 1863, and subsequently in the "Angler- 

 Naturalist," published during the same year. 



