190 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



heads. Eleven salmon-heads were once caught at Wood's Island, from 

 which the bodies had been eaten by seals. Fishers aud otters, and fish- 

 hawks, also destroy them in fresh water, but not enough to affect their 

 numbers much. They have no friends that I am aware of, except fish-cul- 

 turists and fish-commissioners. 



Question 35. To what extent do they prey on other fish ; and on what 

 species ? 



Answer. Their food is similar to that of the Atlantic coast salmon 

 while they are in the salt water; but they eat nothing in fresh water. 



Question 36. To what extent do they suffer from the attacks of other 

 fish, or other animals ? 



Answer. See question 31, p. 189, 



G.— Food. 



Question 37. What is the nature of their food ? 



Answer. See question 35. 



Question 38. Are there any special peculiarities in the manner of feed- 

 ing of these fish ? - 



Answer. They eat nothing in fresh water, but probably eat voraciously 

 in the ocean, their growth in salt water being so extremely rapid. 



Question 39. What amount of food do they consume "^ 



Answer. See question 38. 



H. — Eeprodijction. 



Question 40. Is there any marked change in the shape or color of 

 either sex during the breeding-season; or any peculiar development of 

 or on any portion of the body, as the moutli, fins, scales, «&c. ? 



Answer. At the spawniug-season the changes, especially in the male 

 salmon, are very marked. Both sexes lose their bright and silvery coat. 

 Their scales become absorbed into the skin, which grows very slimy and 

 perfectly smooth, like that of a catfish or horn-pout. Their color changes 

 into a dirty black, aud then into a dark, unclean olive color. Blotches 

 of fungus, and large patclies of white, caused by abrasion of the skin, 

 appear all over them. Their fins and tail become mutilated. Their 

 bodies grow foul and emaciated. (The head of the male changes as de- 

 scribed under question 32.) Their eyes get more or less injured; they 

 often become blind ; swarms of parasites gather in their gills, and stick to 

 their fins. Their bodies reach the extreme point of attenuation, and, as 

 soon as the spawning is accomplished, they die. 



Question 41. Are there any special or unusual habits during the 

 spawning-season ? 



Answer. They lose their shyness at the spawning-time, so that they 

 will not avoid a persou standing a few feet from them, at the water's 

 edge. I attributed this to their state of great exhaustion. 



Question 42. Is spawning interfered with by lines or nets, or other- 

 wise? 



