96 THE SEA-TROUT 



The pectoral fins and tail of the salmon parr are more delicate and 

 pointed than the rounder and coarser fins of the trout, and the deeply 

 forked tail of the salmon parr is a very distinctive feature. 



It may be repeated that the numerical difference in the scales 

 formerly noted also holds good with both fish in the parr stage. 



So much for colouring and structure, but I may add the curious fact 

 noted by Mr. A. H. Chaytor in his excellent " Letters to a Salmon 

 Fisher's Sons " that "A young salmon or a parr or smolt of any other 

 kind, when lifted out of the water, kicks and wriggles vigorously until 

 actually secured by the hand, whereas a small trout lifted out on the 

 line almost always hangs quietly or at most gives a few kicks," and he 

 adds, " it is an absolutely certain way of knowing a young trout from a 

 parr or from a smolt." 



Altogether, it will be seen that there are a good many points which 

 differentiate the salmon parr from the young trout. 



I have thus contrasted first the salmon parr with the young trout to 

 save complication of description as far as may be, and I shall now try 

 to point out wherein specially the salmon parr differs from the sea-trout 

 parr. 



Perhaps, first, it should be said that in respect of size the two fish 

 differ greatly. The Royal Commissioners of 1902 found that about 

 90 per cent, of the salmon smolts, as seen at Fochabers on the Spey, 

 " were about 7 inches in length, and weighed a little over 3 ounces." 

 Hence it may be taken that a salmon parr in its third year seldom 

 exceeds seven inches in length. On the other hand sea-trout parr may 

 actually grow to nine or ten inches in length before becoming smolts. 



In respect of general colour the sea-trout parr approximates more 

 closely to the young .salmon than to the young trout, and curiously 

 enough this is characteristic of the Loch Leven " parr " too, the marked 

 bluish tinge in it also predominating. 



As to the " parr marks," I have elsewhere noted that in the early 



