SALMON MAY BE KEPT TILL EGGS KIPEN. 87 



late ones is also quite certain. In the course of a few weeks 

 the smolts that are to leave at the end of the first year can be 

 noted. The keeper's opinion is that at feeding-time the weak 

 are kept back by the strong, and therefore are not likely to 

 thrive so fast as those that obtain a larger portion of food ; he 

 lays great stress on feeding, and his opinion on that subject is 

 entitled to consideration. 



The guiding of the smolts from the ponds to the river used 

 to be easily managed through the provision made at Stormont- 

 field for that purpose, and which consisted of a runlet lined 

 with wood, protected at the pond by a perforated zinc sluice, 

 and terminating near the river in a kind of reception-chamber, 

 about four feet square, likewise provided with a zinc sluice (also 

 perforated), to keep the fish from getting away till the arranged 

 time, thus affording proper facilities for the marking and 

 examination of departing broods. [See plan.] The sluice being 

 lifted, the current of water carried the fish down a gentle slope 

 to the Tay, into which they proceeded in considerable quantities, 

 day by day, tiU all had departed; the parrs, strange to say, 

 evincing no desire to remove, although, of course, being in the 

 same breeding-ponds, they had a good opportunity of reaching 

 the river. Now all the outlets are kept constantly open, so that 

 the fish can go away to the sea when the instinct seizes them. 



It was a great drawback in former years at Stormontfield, 

 during the hatching seasons, that many fish were caught with 

 their eggs not sufBciently matured, and could not be used 

 in consequence. To remedy this, a plan has been adopted of 

 keeping all the salmon that are caught, if they be so nearly 

 ripe for spawning as to warrant their detention. These are 

 confined in the mill-race till they become thoroughly ready 

 for the manipulator, and are kept within bounds by strong iron 

 gratings, placed about 100 yards from each other. These gravid 

 fish are taken out as they are required, or rather as they ripen, 

 by means of a small sweep-net, and it "is noteworthy that the 

 animals, after being once or twice fished for, become very 

 cunning, and hide themselves in such bottom holes as they can 

 discover, in order that the net may pass over them. I have no 

 doubt that the Stormontfield mill-race forms an excellent 

 temporary feeding-place for these fish, as its banks are weU 

 overhung with vegetation, and its waters are clear as crystal, 

 and of good flavour. It is a decided convenience to be able 

 thus to store the egg-and-mUt producing fish till they are 



