J. PISCICULTURE AND THE FISHERIES. 439 



The planting took place in June of 1870, and Professor Ha- 

 ger doubts whether live hundred survived to the month of 

 August. The young fish seemed entirely incapable of any 

 action in the way of self-preservation, remaining huddled stu- 

 pidly together, and making no effort, by hiding or otherwise, 

 to escape. 



It is more than probable that if the fish had been placed 

 in the water as soon as the yolk-bag was absorbed they 

 would have hid themselves in the gravel, according to their 

 natural instincts, and measurably escaped the attacks of their 

 enemies. 



PERIOD OF MATURITY IX AMERICAN SALMON. 



According to the drift of observations upon the European 

 salmon, about one half of the young, after being hatched, re- 

 main in the rivers one year before they go to the sea, the 

 other half staying two years. They are then believed to 

 pass down in the early spring, weighing from three to five 

 ounces, and to return in the fall as grilse of as many pounds. 

 After sojourning for a short time in the fresh water, they re- 

 turn again to the sea before winter sets in, and come back 

 the next spring as breeding fish of nine pounds and upward. 

 Such is the most generally accepted hypothesis on the sub- 

 ject. 



Several intelligent observers in this country are inclined to 

 disbelieve in a continued stay in the fresh water, and main- 

 tain that the young fish actually go to sea in the autumn of 

 the same year in which they are born. Whether they come 

 back the next year as grilse, or remain longer, they are un- 

 prepared to say. Indeed, in the waters of Maine it is said 

 that grilse are very seldom seen, and that it is only the ma- 

 ture fish that make their appearance. 



Recent examinations on the Miramachi are thought by Mr. 

 Stilwell, of Bangor, to be strongly in favor of the assumption 

 just referred to. He ascertained that the smolt spend the 

 summer in the small brooks, where they remain until the au- 

 tumn rains, after which they disappear, and are not seen any 

 where after the month of October. Although trout were 

 abundant, and could easily be captured, there was no evi- 

 dence whatever that the young salmon remained in the wa- 

 ters. 



