DESTRUCTION OF SALMON OVA. 189 



with the habits of oviparous, or egg, or spawn- 

 bearing fish, the parent salmon having deposited 

 their spawn, impregnated it, and covered it in be- 

 neath sand and gravel, take no further heed of it, 

 or the fry it produces, except, perchance, here- 

 after to feed upon them. Water influenced by- 

 atmospheric action is the sole incubating agent. 

 I may here observe that after the ova are covered 

 in they are safe from all casualties, on which point 

 more hereafter. 



It is during the deposition of ova that they are 

 destroyed, and the greatest destroyers of them 

 are river trout of every species. These salmon- 

 pests are ever on the watch whilst salmon are 

 depositing their ova, and are only kept away from 

 the spawning-beds or trenches by fierce attacks 

 and rapid charges made on them by male and fe- 

 male salmon, both whilst they are preparing to 

 spawn and are, at least one of them, actually en- 

 gaged in doing so. However, as long as a spawn- 

 ing salmon is in its bed, or nest, laying ova or 

 impregnating it, no trout will venture to come 

 near the excavation. It is only when spawning 

 fish drop down the stream, to gather vigour for 



posited in Xovember and December, will require something 

 between 100 and 140 days, according as the winter months 

 may be favourable or unfavourable." 



