THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 17 



that there is any difference whatever in the breed. 

 Let us for the moment consider the dissimilarity 

 between salmon in the parr, smolt, grilse, and adult 

 stages, bearing in mind that every member of the 

 Salmo Salar family undergoes certain transformations 

 at particular periods dating from its birth. Surely it 

 cannot be said that when a young salmon has grown 

 into an adult fish, it will afterwards undergo no further 

 change in appearance : and I would ask those who 

 have considered the matter, whether they can offer 

 any good reasons for the belief that the salmon which 

 run into fresh water in the spring, summer, and 

 autumn, respectively, of a given year, do so in 

 obedience to a persistent instinct, inherited by each 

 fish from its parents, as to the period of ascent from 

 salt water. 



It is well known that salmon which have 

 reached the adult stage undergo certain changes 

 in appearance as they grow older ; a fact that 

 may account for some errors made in regard 

 to the question of breeds. With cattle we observe 



c 



