OF GREAT BRITAIN. 21 



in the spawning-bed, the ^^<g begins to show faint 

 signs of animation, and the eye of the embryo fish 

 appears, a scarcely perceptible black speck, gra- 

 duall}^ increasing in size until the time of hatching 

 — an event which usually occurs in from 90 to 140 

 days, according to the temperature of the water 

 and forwardness of the spring. 



The actual bursting of the young Salmon from 

 the ^'g'g is most interesting. The operation, which 

 I have frequently watched, takes place thus : — ■ 

 The fish lies in the shell coiled round in the form 

 of a hoop, and the greatest strain being at the back, 

 this is, of course, the first part to be freed. At 

 this point the shell splits across, and, after a few 

 struggles, is completely thrown off with a jerk — 

 leaving the umbilical sac or " yolk-bag," containing 

 the red yolk of the ^g^, by which the fish is 

 nourished during the first five or six weeks of its 

 existence, suspended under the stomach. At this 

 " bag-stage " of its development, the half-formed 

 fry is exceedingly delicate, the displacement of a 

 stone, or the slightest bruise or injury, proving 

 instantly fatal. Its appearance is also very curious. 

 The future monarch of the stream is represented 

 by a mere ragged line, fringed at the edges and 

 almost transparent, the head and eyes being pro- 

 minent and altogether out of proportion to the 

 body, which measures only about five-eighths of 

 an inch in length, and is of a pale peach-blossom 

 or azure tint. 



