Fishes of the JVestern North Atlantic 



511 



The following description of the color of alpinus from the Gander River, New- 

 foundland, contributed by G. B. Wiggins, is especially instructive, because it was 

 based on specimens that were still alive when removed from the gill net: 



The fish had indistinct flesh-colored spots on the sides only and there were no red or blue spots. The flesh- 

 coloured spots were almost completely obscured by a purplish-black metallic colour all over the sides. There 

 were no markings on the back, the colour there being a solid purple-black like the sides. The abdomen was 

 white with greyish blotches. The dorsal and caudal fins 



were solid purple-black and had no markings. The anal, Table III. Percentages of Fish with White, Pink, and 

 abdominal and pectoral fins had a pink tinge. The anal Red Meat among 597 Arctic Charr from Represent- 

 and abdominal fins had a distinct white border, while ative Localities, South to North, along the North- 

 the white border of the pectoral fins was less distinct. eastern Labrador Coast, 1953* 



Locality White Pink Red No. of Fish 



When Arctic Charr re-enter fresh ^jj^j^ 9 84 7 89 



water, the silvery sheen disappears from Nain No. i . . 7 43 50 31 



their sides, their back changes to a neutral Nain No. 2.. o 39 61 117 



... , , r .1 • Okkak Bay . . 23 49 29 120 



greenish brown, the color pattern of their ^^^^^^ ^ ^^ ^^ ,^^ 



upper parts becomes greatly accentuated, Ramah o 64 36 120 



the spots on their sides assume a stronger * pj-om Andrews and Lear, 2: 856, tab. 10. 

 whitish yellow or orange-red shade, their 



ventral fins become more or less suffused with a reddish color, and the color of their 

 bellies changes to a strong orange yellow. The alteration is much more spectacular for 

 maturing males than for immature specimens or for maturing females. 



In northeastern Greenland, and presumably elsewhere also, the nuptial livery of 

 Arctic Charr is at its height in November, but the brilliant red-orange hues have en- 

 tirely faded once more by the time the fish move downstream again during the fol- 

 lowing May or June. We have yet to learn whether their sides turn silvery again just 

 before they actually re-enter salt water, or just afterward. 



Color of Flesh. The color of the flesh of alpinus ranges between white and red, with 

 recorded percentages as given in Table in. 



In western Greenland the commercial catch is sorted similarly Into white and red 

 meat, with the latter fetching the higher price (jp : 71). But the mutual percentages at a 



given locality may differ considerably from 

 Table IV. Percentages of Arctic Charr with Pink, year tO year, as demonstrated in Table IV. 

 White, and Red Meat in the Commercial Catches at General experience with Other sal- 



Okkak Bay, Labrador, during the Seaward Migra- . , .. ..u ^ v r j j *. „• 



" . ' * , ^ monids suggests that its rood determines 

 tions, 1 944- 1 949* °° . 

 ^, , ^ n whether a given fish will be white- 

 Flesh 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 „ , , • , n , , A a U A Vk 

 „,, . o o ., fleshed, pink-fleshed, or red-fleshed, with 

 White 8 23 31 15 18 27 ' r _ ' _ ' 



Pink 27 28 25 26 29 55 a crustacean diet favoring the last state; 



Red 65 49 44 59 53 18 no definite evidence, however, seems yet 



* From Andrews and Lear, 2: 857, tab. 11. to have emerged In this regard for alpinus. 



Size. The averages given In Table v 

 show roughly the relationship between length (mm) and weight (lbs) at four localities. 

 It appears from Table v that the Arctic Charr of Hudson Bay, of northeastern Labra- 



