70 THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



time of it, from being constantly elbowed out of 

 their resting-places, as to force them to sea, 

 willing or not. Therefore, it is not improbable 

 that in rivers of a long course the spent fish of 

 the lower waters clear out sooner than those 

 from the upper ; the majority of those having 

 spawned in the lowest spawning grounds preced- 

 ing those which have spawned higher up. The 

 last to reach salt water are the earliest ascending 

 fish which have spawned in the highest spawning 

 grounds. It is possible that those fish which 

 reach the salt water first, acquire the condition 

 of clean fish, and are ready for the fresh water 

 again before others have got there later on. If 

 some of those which reach the sea first re-appear 

 as spring fish on their next visit to fresh water, 

 we could thus account for the fact that additional 

 protection, and artificial breeding of autumn 

 salmon, have been the means of considerably 

 increasing the numbers of our early visitors. But 

 although it is possible that the first kelts that get to 



