TURNING OUT FISH. 157 



period they should be let loose into the 

 waters, which the rearer of them wishes to 

 stock. Upon this point authorities differ. 

 Mr. Ashworth, in a letter to myself, ex- 

 presses himself as being of the opinion that 

 if they are turned out at once {i.e., when 

 they begin to feed), they will, from various 

 causes, be lost to the river. Both he and the 

 Stormontfield authorities always keep their 

 young fry in ponds, and feed them till they 

 put " on their jackets ;" i.e., assume the smolt 

 coat, and go of their own accord to the sea. 

 It must be recollected that the conditions of 

 the waters of the regular salmon rivers are 

 very different to those of the Thames. But, 

 however, depend upon it Messrs. Ashworth 

 and Buist are right in their opinions, practi- 

 cal men as they are, as regards the salmon. 



