SMOLTS 23 
Appendix ITI. In December those silvery fish were 
not found, nor was there evidence from the netting 
during January and February that any migratory 
smolts were present. On March 27, 1906, however, 
fifty parr and smolts were taken, many of which were 
about 54 inches long (the extremes were 4°6 cm. to 
14 cm.), and in appearance approximating to the 
ordinary spring smolts. We have no positive 
evidence, however, that those March smolts were 
entering the sea, and it may be that they were 
representatives of parr which, like the 8 per cent. of 
the Stormontfield fish which were reported to have 
descended after only one year in fresh water (the 
ponds), have reached and have remained in those 
upper ‘tidal waters for some time, and which would 
probably be amongst the earliest to leave for the sea 
after a second year. This view is strengthened by 
an examination of their scales made by Mr. H. W. 
Johnston, which showed that the fish were “ rising 
two years.” Throughout this smolt netting I could 
find no evidence that one-year-old fish left the river 
for the sea or assumed an appearance suggestive of 
their descent before they were two years old. 
With the departure of the smolts for the sea we 
may regard the first stage of the salmon’s life as 
completed. Up to this time the life has been in fresh 
water, where observation on man’s part is less diffi- 
cult than in the sea. The earliest reappearance of 
the fish in fresh water is as a grilse, and the study 
of the intervening period of marine life has till 
recently proved too difficult for most who have 
attempted it. 
