GRILSE. 87 



an interesting matter to know exactly where the 

 feeding-grounds are situated in the sea, the know- 

 ledge would not contribute to the solution of any- 

 practical question. 



It suffices to say that, whereas spent fish are 

 worthless when they leave our rivers, a proportion 

 of them return to us sooner or later in their best 

 condition for the food of mankind. 



GRILSE. 



It would appear that grilse are quite as irregular 

 in their times for entering fresh water as are adult 

 salmon. It is not an uncommon belief that the 

 first run of grilse is made in summer, or early 

 in the autumn of the same year in which they went 

 to sea as smolts. As a matter of fact, we know 

 this to be true in regard to some of their num- 

 ber ; but it is equally certain that many do not so 

 return, and remain behind until they have grown 

 into adult fish. The rivers in the south-west of 



