The Salmon 



6: 



maintain they do. This must be entirely exceptional, as I have 

 seldom found it in natural -bred smolts from which I have obtained 

 my information. The scales I studied were mostly taken from 

 smolts caught in the tidal water, and these were true smolts pro- 

 ceeding towards the sea. I have also taken scales from smolts 



Kii;. 63. — 10! lbs. iSth August 1906. M.n-ked as Sm..lt .May 1905. 



40 miles from the sea and found no difference in them. Many parr 

 migrate to the sea long before the real silvery coat comes on them, 

 so that it is difficult to tell whether they would become smolts that 

 season or not. All parr and even trout in April and May become 

 quite silvery, almost like smolts. In fact, quite as great a change takes 

 place in the parr when passing irom its winter to its summer dress 

 as that which takes place when changing from the parr to the smolt 

 stage. Smolts that are confined in fresh water after assuming 



