THE ATLANTIC SALMON. 



487 



thirty-seven working-days, in collecting 601 salmon. In quality, how- 

 ever, the salmon of 1874 were superior to any received since the estab- 

 lishment was founded, being uncommonly stout and fat. This was 

 more noticeable among those of the smaller class, which may be held to 

 include all those uuder 15 pounds in weight. Among this class, the 

 most common weights are, in ordinary seasons, 10 aud 11 pounds, a few 

 exceeding 12 or falling below 10 pounds. This year a very large num- 

 ber weighed 13 or 14 pounds apiece; while of 10-pouud salmon and 

 smaller there were far fewer than usual. This superiority in weight 

 was also characteristic in a less degree of the salmon of 1873. The 

 general average weight for thyee years was as follows : 



The weight at time of purchase was estimated; in the fall, it was 

 obtained by weighing. It will be seen that the results correspond. 



The extension of the period of collecting salmon to so late a date as 

 July 24 was not from choice but from necessity. It was thought that 

 there was a larger proportion of males among the salmon in the later 

 than in the earlier part of the season ; and since, at the best, we should 

 have a surplus of that sex, it was considered very undesirable to increase 

 their proportion. The result of the examination at the spawning-sea- 

 son, however, dispelled all fears on that score. The ratio of male fish 

 was no larger than usual. Thus we had — 



The mortality of salmon during and after transportation has become 

 less each season. This is to be attributed largely to improved apparatus 

 and modes of handling and greater care and skill on the part of the 

 fishermen. As in the first season, the deaths of salmon occurred almost 

 wholly immediately on arrival at the pond or within ten days there- 

 after. There is no evidence that the extreme heat of the water in the 

 pond has had an injurious effect, though the observations show a much 

 higher temperature than has been considered compatible with the 



