1 6 THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



the autumn stock. In the Blackwater (co. Cork) 

 and the Boyne, and other rivers I could mention, the 

 fish which show themselves during the month of 

 May have more the appearance of overgrown grilse 

 than adult salmon, and would almost give one the idea 

 that they had never been up the river to spawn. 

 Moreover they differ in many ways from the earlier 

 and later run, but if they were compared with each 

 other a still more marked difference would be dis- 

 cernible. Some that come up during autumn are as 

 fresh-looking as spring or summer fish, but it should 

 not be forgotten that nine out of ten of the bright 

 ones are in a gravid state ; so I conclude, that their 

 bright appearance arises from their having developed 

 their ova out at sea, while the majority are roaming 

 about the estuary and getting unmistakably dis- 

 coloured in the brackish water. 



The foregoing particulars, though very imperfectly 

 set forth, may give some idea of the cause of the 

 difference in appearance between the various runs of 

 salmon, but must not be taken to support the idea 



