26 THE LIFE OF THE SALMON 
these are no doubt exceptional, not only in that 
they are rare, but also because such specimens taken 
occasionally at or near the mouths of rivers at this 
stage are apparently examples of young salmon which 
have not followed the usual habits of their fellows. 
To Herr Dahl we are indebted for the information 
respecting the apparently normal habits of the sal- 
mon at the stage we are now considering. As we 
have already seen, certain specimens were obtained 
by him in the sea at considerable distances from 
rivers, and also taken by mackerel fishers. It has 
been by following up this hint of the young salmon’s 
habit that he is now able to answer the often put 
query, “‘ Where do the smolts go after they leave our 
rivers?” Without doubt the satisfactory solving of 
this problem is a most valuable piece of work, for 
which the greatest possible credit is due to the 
Norwegian investigator. 
In the summer of 1905,* Herr Dahl renewed his 
endeavours to obtain young salmon by offering re- 
wards through the instrumentality of a Christiania 
gentleman. He obtained twenty fish in this way, 
captured between Sogne and Ulvasund. Eight of 
these proved on examination to be young salmon, 
the remainder being sea trout. The stomachs of 
these young salmon contained remains of herring, 
sand-eels, and sparlings. Permission to use a net of 
small mesh was obtained, and an agreement was come 
to by which a Mr. Waage of Brandasund should 
employ it in mackerel fishing. Between January 
* Knut Dahl. “ Uyere Oplysninger om Unglaks og dens Ophold- 
sfteder.” Norsk Fiskeritidende, 12, 1906. 
