SKIMMING THE SURFACE 



of the male, so that impregnation takes place imme- 

 diately. The male then guards the impregnated eggs — 

 which are unusually large compared with those of 

 some other fishes — and fights ofif any other males who 

 approach. The number of eggs deposited is enormous. It 

 has been calculated that over 150 million salmon ova are 

 annually deposited in the Scottish river Tay alone. Other 

 fishes, birds and insect larvae devour quantities of the 

 eggs, so that only a small proportion hatch out. 



The young salmon lies coiled up in its egg, which it 

 finally bursts in its struggle for freedom. It issues with a 

 slender snout, semi-transparent and extremely delicate. 

 Suspended under its belly is a conical bag — the "yolk- 

 sac" — which contains the red yolk of the egg and oil 

 globules. For about six weeks the maturing embryo takes 

 no food save that which it obtains from this portable 

 larder. During this period it hides in crevices among 

 stones, and keeps up a perpetual fanning with its pectoral 

 fin. 



When the yolk-sac has gone the young salmon feeds 

 greedily on small creatures and puts on a mottled coat 

 which makes it resemble a young trout. At this stage it is 

 usually known as a parr, or samlet, though in some places 

 by the names pink, brandling or fingerling. Many 

 anglers have argued that the parr is no salmon but a 

 distinct species, but Mr. Shaw of Drumlanrig, between 

 1834 and 1836, made experiments on the Tay which 

 have convinced naturalists for all time that the parr is 

 nothing else than the young salmon. 



The parr stage lasts until the fish assumes the silver 

 mail of the smolt, and is ready to descend to the sea. 

 It cannot do so until the change has taken place — a parr 

 will die at once in salt water. But when it becomes a 

 smolt, perhaps six inches in length, it develops an im- 

 perative hunger for the sea. It may go to the sea when a 

 year old, or two or even three years old. 



After two months in the sea the salmon has gained 



37 



