86 



The Salmon 



On 22nd January 1907, whilst angling on the Isla mouth beat of 

 the Tay, I caught twenty-four kelts, ninety per cent of which had been 

 a very short time in the river. Their average weight was about 20 

 lbs., and all were dark in colour, some of them red; in fact, I never 

 before saw fish in such splendid condition. I was so struck with 



Fii;. 8S. — Marked av l-IclL l6 lbs.. Fchriiary 1904. Recaptured iStli June 1905, 34 lbs. 



their appearance that I went back next day and caught a number, 

 and had them photographed. These photographs I reproduce 

 (Figs. 82, S3). No doubt these fish, caught a little later in the 

 season, would be known as " well-mended kelts," a term often applied 

 to them by anglers. Being black in colour, they are not, of course, 

 so showy as silvery kelts. The other ten per cent were ordinary long. 



