252 Mr D. Ellis an tJie Natural Histcyry of the Salmon. 



On the present occasion, it is proposed to speak only of the 

 first species, viz. the Salino salar, or common salmon ; and this 

 we shall do, by treating, \sty Of the process of spawning, and 

 subsequent evolution of the ova ; 2J, Of the growth and move- 

 ments of the young brood to and from the sea, during the first 

 year of life ; and, 3tZ, Of the migrations of the salmon betwixt 

 the river and the sea. 



Of the process of Spazoning, and subsequent evolution of the 



Ova. 



The salmon is a very prolific animal. Both the male and fe- 

 male frequently propagate their kind during the first year of 

 their age ; while the older fishes, which inhabit alternately the 

 seas and lower parts of rivers during the winter and spring 

 months, ascend to the higher parts of rivers in autumn to exer- 

 cise the same function. Early in spring the milt, or repro- 

 ductive organ, appears to be forming in the male and the roe in 

 the female salmon, but both are then small in size ; they in- 

 crease in each sex through the summer months, and towards 

 autumn the male and female become respectively full of milt 

 and roe. In proportion as these bodies advance to ripeness, the 

 salmon fall off* in condition. Before the spawn is of great size, 

 the belly of the fish, says Dr Fleming, is loaded with fat ; but 

 when the milt and roe have become ripe, that fat has disappear- 

 ed from the belly, and it is little else but skin. This change 

 furnishes a test by which we may know whether a kippered 

 salmon had been in good or bad condition at the time it was so 

 prepared ; for the thinner the edges of the belly may be, the 

 presumption is, that the nearer was the fish to a spawning state*. 



In a general way, the evidence obtained from all parts of the 

 United Kingdom goes to prove that, towards the months of 

 August, September, and October, the reproductive organs, both 

 in the male and female salmon, have, more or less, completely 

 reached maturity, at which period the roe in the female is found, 

 on the average, to contain from 17,000 to 20,000 ova or eggs. 

 When arrived at this state, the instinct of propagation impels 

 them eagerly to seek rivers, and to ascend nearly to their sources, 

 jn order to find a place suitable for the deposition of their spawn. 

 • Report II. p. 72. 



