56 PISH HARVESTING. 



in length. It is quite clear that these teeth 

 grow during the time the fish remain in fresh- 

 water; no shrinking of the gums could account 

 for such a length of tooth ; and their use, I be- 

 lieve, is for fighting. 



My own observations lead me to assume that 

 at least there are eight or ten males to every 

 female; and as one spawning-bed is used by 

 many females, terrible battles ensue between the 

 males as to which shall impregnate the ova; 

 and it would appear, reasoning from analogy, 

 that the same law holds good with fish as with 

 gregarious mammals and birds the stronger and 

 more able male always begets the offspring. I 

 hardly think the ova of a female fresh-run sal- 

 mon, impregnated by the milt of an old and 

 spent male fish, would produce as strong and 

 healthy an offspring as the male fat, fresh, 

 vigorous, and healthy. I cannot help thinking 

 there must have been some purpose as antlers 

 are given to the deer tribes, spurs to the males 

 of gregarious birds, and like examples in giving 

 such formidable weapons to these salmon during 

 their breeding- time ; and why not the reason 

 above stated? 



Quoting from Dr. Scouler : ' Observatory Inlet 

 (which I should imagine to be just such an inlet 



