SALMON FISHERY AT DOOHULLA. 309 



white trout. Two days after came a note to say that three 

 salmon had been seen rising in the lakes. Then came one 

 to say that a grilse of 41b. or 51b. had been caught in 

 the trap. Then one or two more, and amongst them one 

 of the marked fish of the year but one previous ; and so 

 the tally went steadily on, one, two, and three fish coming in 

 daily, until before the end of the season no less than 106 

 grilse had made their appearance in a water where salmon 

 had never been seen before, and amongst them were no 

 less than eighty-three of the fish they had marked. The 

 whole of the fish were grilse, averaging 41b. to' 51b. weight. 

 A curious fact occurred also, which is worth noting, 

 showing that big smolts make big fish. Among the 

 smolts marked were thirteen which had far outstripped 

 the rest in size ; and among the grilse were some 

 which had also considerably outstripped the rest. Most 

 of these smolts were marked. Among the rest was 

 one very fine fellow, which Mr. Eamsbottom had to hold 

 in both hands while he was marked. They were cutting 

 off the adipose or soft fin, and the operator, who held the 

 scissors, remarked, as they came to this fish, "What a 

 pity to mutilate such a fine fellow ! We will only cut off a 

 piece of his fin ;" and the fin was cut in halves, leaving a 

 small triangular piece. This very fish was caught, and as 

 he was the largest smolt, so he was the largest grilse, 

 and weighed 7|lb. The whole of the fish of course were 

 returned to the water, and allowed to run up to their 

 spawning beds without further interference. Now here is 

 a strong and indisputable fact, in the whole of these fish, 

 without exception, taking the entire year in the sea. There 



