224 



AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK 



" At eleven months its length is four and a half inches, and 

 the bright silvery scales are now seen descending towards the 

 region of the belly. 



"A Salmon-fry at twelve months old is called a 'Smolt.' " 



'' It now assumes the migratory coat ; that is, the silvery one. 

 The transverse bars have disappeared, and so have the pink 

 spots on the sides. The young fish, a part of the back, belly, 

 and head, is covered with bright silvery scales. At the 

 shoulder a few Trout-like spots are visible. It is now ready 

 at the first fitting opportunity to commence journeying down 

 river to the sea. In order to induce and enable smolts to do 

 so, it is not necessary that rivers should be flooded, but there 

 must be a sufficient volume of water to carry the migrating 

 fish safely over weirs, shallows, and other impediments. 

 They will not migrate at low water." 



Although repeating in part what has just been said, to 

 elucidate the subject still further, I give on the next page my 

 own explanation of the subjoined illustration. 



