AUTUMN ^^ WINTER EMIGKATION OF SMOLTS. 119 



lute proof, that smolts make their way to the 

 salt water at other times of the year than in the 

 spring. It must not be assumed that the two in- 

 stances of the late run of smolts referred to are 

 mere individual exceptions to the general habits of 

 these fish, though it is certainly surprising that we 

 get so little information in regard to their habits in 

 other rivers.. On that point, however, there is a 

 good reason forthcoming by way of explanation. 

 Taking it for granted that smolts are frequently caught 

 in autumn and winter, the very fact of being found 

 in possession of them subjecting the offender to 

 a heavy penalty fully accounts for their capture 

 having been kept a secret. Moreover, during the 

 close season, when all kind of fishing is prohibited, 

 the banks of the rivers are deserted except by water 

 bailiffs and poachers. The former take little interest 

 except in the duties they are paid to perform, and 

 even if they were on the look-out, no fish would be 

 seen rising during the cold winter months. Thus 

 although the rivers might be full of smolts, the 



