IV -THE SALMON OF THE DANUBE, OR THE HUCHO, (SALMO 

 HUCHO,) AND ITS INTRODUCTION INTO AMERICAN WATERS. 



By Rudolph Hessel. 



[N'OTE. — The following commimicatiou upon the Huclw was prepared 

 l)y Mr. Rudolph Hessel, at my request, and embodies some facts of much 

 interest in reference to this fish. The propriety of introducing so vora- 

 cious a species, and one that remains and feeds entirely in fresh ^Yaters, 

 where the sea-salmon oecnrs, or can be introduced, may jierhaps be 

 questioned, but whether it might not be phinted to advantage in tlie more 

 southern waters of the United States, or even in the Mississippi Biver, 

 is well worthy of consideration. 



S. F. BATED. 



The Danube salmon differs from the other SaJmonidce by its more cylin- 

 drical and elongated body. The back is of a dark brownish-green ; the 

 belly, silver-white, and on its sides are black, round, and half-moon- 

 shaped spots, which are more crowded along the upper part of the back : 

 in this exhibiting a resemblance in marking to the sea-trout. 



AVith increasing age (fish of 12 to 20 pounds and more) the sides ex- 

 hibit a reddish tint, which becomes of a beautifid rose-color during tlie 

 breeding season, and gives rise in some places to the name of " red- 

 fish," not to be mistaken, however, tor the " Eothel,''^ fSalmo umbla, or 

 salvcUnns.J 



The Danube salmon surpasses all other SaJmonidce in size, and attains 

 a weight of 40 to 60 and 100 [)ounds. In rare cases, specimens even of 

 120 pounds have been cauglit. Its flesh is almost like that of the sal- 

 mon of the Ehine in quality, but is white, while that of all the other 

 German Salmonidce is red. 



A special peculiarity of this fish is its limited geographical distribution, 

 occurring only in the streams emptying into the Black Sea, especially 

 the Danube and its tributaries. When young (weighing from 12 to 18 

 ])ounds) it has its abode in the deep, rapid, mountain branches of the 

 Danube, and afterward descends into the river itself, in the lower por- 

 tion of which, near Galacz, Semlin, &c., it is fonnd of fully developed size. 

 The rivers Drave, Save, and Theiss, the principal southern tributaries of 

 the Danube, also abound in full-grown fish. It is also frequently caught 

 in the northwesterly tributaries, above Vienna — the Inn, Lech, Isar, Sal- 

 rach, Altmiihl, Eegen, Iller, and even the small Brenz; indeed, generally, 

 everywhere in the Upper Danube of AYUrtemberg. Except as indicated 

 S. Mis. 74 11 



