The hypothesis that marine survival of Atlantic salmon Salmo Salar is linked to marine growth was explored by using inter-circuli distances and total numbers of circuli existing on scales from a population monitored over nearly four decades. The results suggest that marine growth controls survival, particularly during the late summer and early winter of the first year at sea. Recruitment is strongly linked to growth, described as the total number of circuli, but not to inter-circuli distances. This highlights the potential of patterns of circuli number to be considered as proxies for growth. Indications that hatchery populations might be subject to other mortality events, in addition to those experienced by wild populations, are also presented. (C) 2007 The Authors Journal compilation (C) 2007 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.