50 SALMONID.E. 



a silvery white ; anal fin ten rays of the same colour. When 

 the scales were carefully taken off with a knife, the obscure 

 red spots became of a fine vermilion, and were nineteen in 

 number ; and ten obscure oval bars of a dusky bluish colour 

 appeared, which crossed the lateral line. In a young fry 

 these bars are very distinct." 



Whether the river be considered an early or a late river, 

 the descent of the fry is said to take place much about the 

 same time in all. It begins in March, and continues through 

 April and part of May. The Smolt, or young Salmon, is by 

 the fishermen of some rivers called a Laspring ; and various 

 couplets refer to the fish, as well as to the time and circum- 

 stances under which the descent is made. 



The last spring floods that happen in May, 

 Carry the Salmon fry down to the sea. 



And again, 



The floods of May 

 Take the Smolts away. 



But the uncertainty of popular or provincial names is a source 

 of great perplexity to the naturalist. The Laspring of some 

 rivers is the young of the true Salmon ; but it must also be 

 recollected that the fry of two other species probably descend 

 to the sea about the same time as those of the Salmon. 



The Salmon fry at first keep in the slack water by the 

 sides of the river ; after a time, as they become stronger, 

 they go more towards the mid-stream ; and when the water is 

 increased by rain, they move gradually down the river. On 

 meeting the tide, they remain for two or three days in that 

 part where the water becomes a little brackish from the mix- 

 ture of salt water, till they are inured to the change, when 

 they go off to the sea all at once. There, their growth 

 appears to be very rapid, and many return to the brackish 

 water, increased in size in proportion to the time they have 



