The Salmon 



45 



fish as an example because it is impossible that it could have spawned. 

 Others stayed a longer period before returning. A kelt of 8 lbs., 

 which was marked on 17th January 

 1902, was 20 lbs. 3 oz. when caught 

 as a clean fish on iSth August 

 1903; while another of 3 lbs. on 

 31st January 1906 was 11 lbs. on 

 27th April 1907. Kelts marked on 

 other rivers give much the same 

 result, showing clearly that they re- 

 main longer than a year in the sea, 

 thus continuing the same habits as 

 they had after going down as 

 smolts. Their growth is remark- 

 able, for although marked as kelts 

 in January, they may not have 

 entered the sea till April. The 

 6-lb. one has increased to 18 lbs. ; 

 and another of 6 lbs. caught on 

 20th August of the same year, 

 which has become 14^ lbs., may not 

 have been in the sea more than 

 four months. This increase is not 

 so remarkable, however, as that of 

 the small smolt going down, weigh- 

 ing I to 2 oz., in April or May 

 1905, and returning on 9th August 

 1907, 27 lbs. in weight! This I 

 consider the greatest increase that 

 is known of any marked fish of the 

 salmon kind. Those running after 

 July are larger — from 12 to 20 lbs. 

 — and all spawn and become kelts. Many of them die after spawning 

 The following are particulars of some of these marked kelts (Fig. 41): — 



