FISHES OF NEW YORK 245 



The Atlantic salmon has a moderately thick and elongate 

 body. The greatest hight, at the origin of the dorsal fin, is two 

 ninths of the total length without caudal. The caudal peduncle 

 is rather slender; its least depth about one third of the greatest 

 depth of body. The head is comparatively small; its length in 

 the female about one fifth of total without caudal. The eye 

 is placed at a distance from the top of the head equal to its 

 own diameter. It is one half as long as the snout, and about 

 one seventh of length of head. The maxillary reaches a little 

 past the eye in adults. Its length equals the depth of caudal 

 peduncle. The dorsal origin is midway between tip of snout 

 and adipose fin. The adipose fin is long and narrow, its width 

 one half its lenglh, and equal to length of eye. The base is 

 slightly longer than its longest ray, and nearly one eighth of 

 total without caudal. The last dorsal ray is about one third 

 of length of dorsal base. The ventral origin is nearly under 

 the end of the dorsal base. The length of the fin equals one 

 half the length of head. The appendage is two fifths of the 

 length of the fin. The pectoral is as long as the dorsal base. 

 The distance of the ventral origin from the anal origin is a 

 little more than length of head. The longest anal ray equals 

 length of ventral. The last ray is two fifths of length of longest. 

 B. 11; D. 11 divided rays and 3 rudiments; A. 9 divided rays and 

 3 rudiments. Scales 23, 120, 21. Vertebrae 60. Pyloric caeca 60 

 to 70. In the adult the upper parts are brownish or grayish; 

 the sides silvery. Numerous X-shaped or XX-shaped black spots 

 on the upper half of the body, side of the head, and on the fins. 

 Males in the breeding season have red blotches along the sides. 

 In the young there are from 10 to 12 dark crossbars mingled 

 with red blotches and black spots. 



The salmon in America has but a single common name. When 

 the young have reached a length of 2 inches and taken on the 

 vermilion spots and dark cross bands, they are called parr, and 

 retain this name while they remain in fresh water. Before 

 descending to the sea in the second or third spring, the parr 

 assumes a bright silvery coat and is then known as a smolt. 



