36 SALMON FISHING IN THE TWEED 



burst the egg 101 days after impregnation, the 

 temperature of the water being at that time 43°, 

 and the temperature of the atmosphere 45° : a 

 former brood, which died and were excluded in a 

 colder temperature, did not come into life till 114 

 days after impregnation. 



It further appears from a part of Mr. Shaw's 

 publication, which I have not hitherto quoted, but 

 which I have now before me, that the fry, at two 

 months old, are only one inch and a quarter long ; 

 at four months, two inches and a half ; and at six 

 months, three inches and a quarter : that makes 

 nine months and eight days after the impregnation 

 of the spawn. At eighteen months old the fry 

 measure six inches in length, and the milt of the 

 male is matured, and can be made to flow from 

 the body freely by the slightest pressure ; but the 

 females of a similar age do not exhibit a corre- 

 sponding appearance as to the maturity of the roe. 

 The male is at this time in the autumn of his 

 second year, and lies about and in the spawning* 

 beds of the large salmon, where he impregnates 

 the ova. The following spring he is about seven 

 inches and a half long, when beautiful silver scales 

 grow over the spots and bars which have charac- 

 terised him up to this period ; and the majority of 

 the breed then congregate, and go to sea with the 

 first floods in INI ay. 



In the latter end of April, 1842, Mr. Shaw 

 obligingly sent me two parcels of the salmon fry, 

 which arrived in good condition ; and although 

 not so glossy as when first captured, were made 

 brighter in appearance by the application of water. 



