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Observations on the Natural History of the Salmon, Herring, and 

 Vendace. By ROBERT KNOX, F. R. S. Ed. 



(Read 1th and %\st Jan. 1833.) 



PART I. THE SALMON. 



J HE inquiries of scientific persons into the various departments 

 of knowledge, have very generally for their sole object the inves- 

 tigation of truth, and the progress of science, without any refe- 

 rence to trade or the usual business of life. Hence to the prac- 

 tical man they seem generally dry and without interest, his mind 

 being directed towards immediate utility, public or individual. 

 Should I in the course of the present inquiry, (which in its es- 

 sential nature is strictly anatomical and physiological, and can 

 be investigated with advantage only by the anatomist and phy- 

 siologist,) seem to the strictly scientific to have paid too much 

 attention to practical details, apparently unconnected with the 

 scientific part, and consequently out of the line of my vocation, 

 my apology is, that in the course of the observations, I found this 

 to be unavoidable, although my utmost efforts were made to pre- 

 vent the inquiry running into this laborious and expensive train ; 

 and I entertain a firm belief, that, on a careful perusal of the ob- 

 servations, taking all matters into consideration, it will be found 

 that I could not have done otherwise. 



