Salmonidae 91 



It is now termed a 'redfish.' The female, however, is dark 

 in color and known as 'blackfish.' 'Smolts ' (young river fish) 

 are bluish along the upper half of the body, silvery along the 

 sides, due to a layer of silvery scales being formed over the 

 trout-like colors, while they have darker fins than the yearling 

 'ping,' but similar bands and spots, which can be seen (as 

 in the parr) if the example be held in certain positions of light. 

 ' Parr ' (fishes of the year) have two or three black spots only 

 on the opercle, and black spots and also orange ones along the 

 upper half of the body, and no dark ones below the lateral line, 

 although there may be orange ones which can be seen in its 

 course. Along the side of the body are a series (12 to 15) of 

 transverse bluish bands, wider than the ground color and crossing 

 the lateral line, while in the upper half of the body the darker 

 color of the back forms an arch over each of these bands, a 

 row of spots along the middle of the rayed dorsal fin, and the 

 adipose orange-tipped . ' ' 



The dusky cross-shades found in the young salmon or pan- 

 are characteristic of the young of salmon, trout, grayling, and 

 nearly all the other Salmonidce. 



The salmon of the Atlantic is, as already stated, an anadro- 

 mous fish, spending most of its life in the sea, and entering the 

 streams in the fall for the purpose of reproduction. The time 

 of running varies much in different streams and also in different 

 countries. As with the Pacific species, these salmon are not 

 easily discouraged in their progress, leaping cascades and other 

 obstructions, or, if these prove impassable, dying after repeated 

 fruitless attempts. 



The young salmon, known as the "parr," is hatched in the 

 spring. It usually remains about two years in the rivers, de- 

 scending at about the third spring to the sea, when it is known 

 as " smolt." In the sea it grows much more rapidly, and becomes 

 more silvery in color, and is known as "grilse." The grilse 

 rapidly develop into the adult salmon ; and some of them, as in 

 the case with the grilse of the Pacific salmon, are capable of 

 reproduction. 



After spawning the salmon are very lean and unwholesome 

 in appearance, as in fact. They are then known as "kelts." 

 The Atlantic salmon does not ascend rivers to any such dis- 



