84 The Natural History of the Salmon. 



wanted food ? They lose weight after being in 

 fresh water for some time, the food being not so 

 abundant ; the males also lose more weight than 

 the females, because as the spawning period 

 approaches their laid-up fat on the pyloric appen- 

 dages is wanted for other purposes. They get 

 thin and lanky, put on their nuptial dress, become 

 of various colours, and are no doubt very attractive 

 to the females, and less so to their enemy the fly- 

 fisher, but although unfit for food they can still 

 show rare sport when hooked. 



It has been a matter of controversy as to how 

 far the salmon go into the sea. The general opinion 

 is that they remain always near the coast, and do 

 not inhabit the deep sea. A doubt has arisen 

 lately as to whether the great salmon found in the ' 

 early spring in Loch Tay ever go to the sea proper 

 at all ; whether they do not merely go to the 

 estuary of the river, and there find sufficient food 

 to renovate their strength, and return in the early 

 spring to the loch in the finest condition. That 

 they can invigorate themselves quickly in brackish 

 water is proved by the salmon in the Gulf of 

 Bothnia, where owing to the enormous quantity of 

 fresh water which is poured into it, and the narrow 

 outlet into the sea, the water is very brackish, 

 yet the salmon thrive wonderfully in it ; still these 

 fish can go if they wish into the North Sea. 



