1904 - 5 .] Salmon in transition from Smolt to Grilse. 399 
this paper. The smolt, as is well known, has this characteristic, 
as also has the newly run grilse and the spring salmon. In 
other words, when the salmon is found in a very silvery condition, 
at a time remote from the season of its spawning, the scales are 
very deciduous. Grilse and salmon, in a more or less gravid 
condition, after a stay in fresh water, do not show this peculiarity, 
the scales being apparently enclosed firmly in the skin pockets. 
A number of scales from the fish have been examined by my 
friend Mr H. W. Johnston, Strathtay, who has recently made a 
special study of salmon scales, and is more able than I am to deal 
with the question of age and growth as shown by scales. 
From notes he has kindly sent me, it appears that in his opinion 
this little salmon has attained the age of rather less than two and 
a half years, and that fully two years have been spent in fresh 
water. Mr Johnston writes — “ The area of the fresh-water scale 
growth is larger than is usual in Tay fish, and corresponds more 
to that of hand-fed smolts from a hatchery.” I am informed 
that no hatchery exists in the Galway district. It is possible, 
however, that the conditions of feeding may vary greatly in 
different localities. “In the early part of the third year,” that 
is, when the fish is two years old and has reached the migratory 
stage, “ there is slightly improved growth, owing perhaps to (a) 
tidal feeding or (b) increased temperature, followed immediately 
by probably continuous sea feeding, and corresponding growth of 
comparatively brief duration, resembling from half to three 
quarters of that generally shown by a grilse in its first summer 
in the sea. There is no trace of river feeding after the sea 
growth.” 
I am therefore inclined to the view that the presence of the fish 
in the Galway river, a quarter of a mile above tide reach, is not 
indicative of any habit which the salmon at this stage develops. 
The presence of the fish in fresh water at this stage I am inclined 
to regard as exceptional, or at least unusual. The specimen is a 
male, with genitalia quite undeveloped. The stomach is empty 
and contracted, but the pyloric appendages are fairly well sur- 
rounded with fat. The vomer bone has the usual complement of 
teeth on the head, while on the shaft of the bone two pairs of 
teeth are still present. The dorsal and caudal fins are blackish 
