122 THE HABITS OF THE SALMON: 



Again, I do not see why the winter may not be 

 chosen for the emigration of the hardier fish bred in 

 the main river, whilst those bred artificially prefer 

 the spring. But to ascertain whether this is a 

 general habit or not, we have only to mark the 

 fish in order to decide once and for all. I am 

 inclined to believe that winter smolts are not bred 

 from ova spawned in November, and therefore 

 a considerable number of parr bred from ova of 

 late spawners should be marked and turned out 

 into the breeding ponds along with those bred from 

 ova of the November fish, besides turning out a lot 

 into the main river. We should then ascertain 

 whether the marked fish in the ponds evinced any 

 desire, by restless movement round the blocked 

 exits or otherwise, to get to sea in winter ; unless, 

 of course, it be contended that the fact of their 

 being in confinement would so alter their nature as 

 to take away, or at any rate to retard, their desire 

 for departing. Some of the smolts which were 

 turned into the river would most probably be caught 



