On Salmon- Leaps, 163 



after death upon examination found that organ in a consi- 

 derable btate oK disease, where the only symptom that ex- 

 isted during life was a slight degree of dyspepsia/ 



I am yours, &cc. 



Reet Street, Feb. 10, 1810. T. J. PeTTIGREW. 



XXVI. On Salmon-Leaps. 

 To Mr, Tilloclu 



Sir, W hoever carefully peruses Mr. Cam's paper " On 

 the 'ascent of salmon over the elevations in the course of 

 rivers called salmon-leaps," as given in your Magazine for 

 November last, must needs Le astonished indeed at the ra- 

 pidity of the growth of young salmon, from the period of 

 their being spawned to their departure out of the rivers. 

 As he is not precise as to the time when these occurrences 

 happen, I must beg leav^c to state them : — The spawn is 

 deposited chiefly in December and January, and the salmon 

 depart in the beginning of April, being on an average a 

 space of about fourteen weeks. Now admitting the eggs 

 to be hatched in eight weeks (which I believe is much too 

 hitlc), we have only six weeks for the young fry to arrive at 

 the length oi six or eight inches ; an increase which is ab- 

 solutely incredible, more especially v;hen we consider the 

 comparative want of food incident to the season. 



The fact is; the young fry do not descend the rivers with. 

 the old salmon, in the spring after they are spawned ; for in 

 the month of October following they are no bigger than a 

 minnow. Mr. John Clayton of Stockport (who is reckoned 

 to be one of the most experienced anglers in the kingdom), 

 and others, have frequently caught them of the size, and 

 at the time stated, and are fully satisfied of their being 

 young salmon. In the months of June and July they are 

 caught about five or six inches in length : this I know to 

 be fact ; and it is not till the ensuing spring that they 

 pass with the old ones down the rivers with the floods into 

 the sea. Their growth is there very rapid, as they are 

 found on their return, in the months of August and Sep- 

 tember, to weigh from 14 to SO ounces. 



This statement, if not established beyond all doubt by 

 incontrovertible facts, is highly probable, and accords more 

 with their progressive growth, and rational conjecture, than 

 the account given lo us by Mr. Carr. I am, &c. 



feb.lO, I80i. PiSCATOR. 



L2 XXVII. Gn 



