134 SALMONIDES. 



GEN. SALMO. 



Salmon, — Salmo Salar. The upper jaw is 

 larger than the lower, and in the males the under 

 jaw is curved upward. The back has a bluish 

 shade, the sides are silvery white below ; and 

 above the lateral line, are irregular, dark spots. 

 On the tongue, which is white and cartilaginous, 

 are teeth ; and the scales are striated. 



So perfectly well known is the salmon, that it 

 is quite needless to enter into any further details 

 than those which relate to the salmon fishery, or 

 tend to illustrate the character of this highly valua- 

 ble tribe. 



Probably the Connecticut has been more distin- 

 guished for this fish, than any other river in Mas- 

 sachusetts, but they are becoming more and more 

 scarce, from year to year. Locks, steamboats, 

 the common business of navigation, and above 

 all, increasing settlements, conspire to interrupt 

 the progress of the salmon towards the head 

 waters. 



Still, however, they overcome great artificial ob- 

 stacles, such as dams, he. by their muscular dex- 

 terity, which would almost discourage the perse- 

 vering industry of man. 



Formerly, in the month of April, they passed 

 up the Connecticut to its highest branches, leap- 



