4 6 



suspension, rainfall, &c., must be carefully studied in 

 connection with turning in the young salmon, but with a 

 little experience ultimate success is assured. 



The Hatchery can supply eyed ova for the redds and fry 

 for the shallows, and ponds should be constructed near the 

 Hatching-house for yearlings, but where* it is necessary to 

 stock with smolts ponds for the purpose must be constructed 

 near the head of the estuary, as the carriage of two-year-old 

 samlets is neither easy nor economical. The time that inter- 

 venes between the smolt just entering the tidal water and 

 its first return towards the river varies considerably on the 

 east coast of Scotland ; two summers may sometimes inter- 

 vene, and we must be careful not to assume that all fish 

 return or attempt to return in the grilse stage, for I have 

 found in the case of the Lochleven Trout only a small 

 proportion spawn in the corresponding state. 



But whatever the time is we know that his growth is most 

 rapid, and his sea food must be studied before much further 

 advance can be made in Salmon culture ; garvies and young 

 herring probably form a great portion of his food, but what- 

 ever it be his paths in the sea are as well marked, and to 

 some fishermen, alas, as well known, as in the river. 



Trammels in the sea are successfully dropped by east 

 coast fishing boats on their way out and lifted on their 

 return. The food of Salmon at sea may possibly be 

 influenced by the modes of fishing. Boats year by year go 

 farther north and farther to sea for their Herrings ; the 

 fishing grounds are slowly but surely receding from the 

 shore. It is too early yet to foreshadow the results, it may 

 be that food inshore grows more plentiful now that the 

 Herrings are further out, or it may be that the Herrings are 

 further out because the inshore food has decreased, it may 

 be, and to a certain extent it must be, a matter of changing 



