606 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



accordance with the various slopes of the central mountain range, the 

 Alps. 



The following list of those fresh-water fish which are of most import- 

 ance to our legislation has been compiled from the scientific works men- 

 tioned above, as well as from the reports of the several agricultural 

 societies, and of many naturalists in the various provinces of Austria.* 



12. — SALMON FAMILY, (SALMONOIDEI.) 



The species of this family take the first place among fresh-water fish 

 in regard to fishery legislation, both on account of their great value, 

 and the exquisite flavor of their tender and boneless flesh, their rapid 

 growth, their existence in nearly all the Austrian waters, aud, finally, 

 on account of their special adaptation to pisciculture, in which latter 

 respect they excel most other species. 



At the first glance, we can distinguish the individuals belonging to this 

 kind by a double dorsal fin, consisting of a front one placed about the 

 middle of the back, composed of soft rays of several joints, and a posterior 

 one, being only a small piece of skin, a so-called fat fin. They have 

 mostly very small scales, thus differing entirely from the large-scaled 

 fish of the carp kind. 



Among the numerous genera of Salmonoidei, the following are the 

 most important : 



a. Trutta, comprising all salmon and trout, distinguished by a wide 

 mouth with even teeth, and long vomer bone ; 



b. Salmo, with short vomer bone, the short front part of which alone 

 has teeth ; 



c. Thymallus, with small mouth, fine teeth in the jaws, and powerful 

 dorsal fin ; 



d. Coregonus, with a toothless mouth, fine bent teeth on the tongue, 

 and a silvery-white body. 



Carl Vogt divides the salmonoids of the genera Salmo and Trutta, 

 according to their mode of life, a manner which is equally suitable for 

 piscicultural and legislative purposes, into the sea salmon, the lake 

 salmon or lake trout, and the brook trout. All the different varieties of 

 this kind which are spread through Europe, Asia, aud North America, 

 as far as the northernmost limit of the circum-polar regions, are fish of 

 prey, and have many characteristics in common. 



Among the sea salmon we must count the common salmon, (Rhine 

 salmon,) Trutta salar, the hook-salmon and silver-salmon, distinguished 

 as different kinds by some naturalists, being only varieties of one and 

 the same kind, and the sea-trout, Trutta trutta; these all spend a part 

 of their life in the ocean. 

 . The salmon are found in all northern seas, in the North Sea, and Bal- 



* Along the coasts of Austria and Dalmatia the salt-water fisheries are of the greatest 

 importance. These, however, require a separate treatise, and we therefore limit our- 

 selves in this review to the fresh-water fish. 



