[fraser] 



PACIFIC SALMON 



203 



'g.û 90 ^00 /lo 



Fig. 17. — Humpback. 2nd year growth. 



where feeding was not so good, but that would be the reverse of con- 

 ditions in the sockeye where the Rivers inlet fish do not grow as much 

 in the first year at sea as they do the second, differing in that respect 

 from the Fraser river fish. Neither would that give any explanation 

 for the smaller growth in the second year, although they were later 

 in coming in than the Rivers inlet fish. They must have reached 

 poorer feeding grounds in the open sea, so that the growth in each 

 year was affected or else they must be constitutionally smaller fish. 



The first year growth in the Rivers inlet fish varied from 10-0 to 

 14-0 inches, with an average of 12- 1 and the second year growth from 

 8-0 to 12-2, with an average of 9-6, while the total length ranged 

 from 19-0 to 25-5, with an average of 21-7. The first year growth 

 in the Comox fish ranged from 9-2 to 13-7, but there are very few 

 over 12-9, with an average of 11-0, the second year from 7-1 to 10-9, 

 with an average of 8-7, while the total length varied from 17-0 to 

 24-0, with an average of 19-7. 



The frequency curves show the difference between the Rivers 

 inlet and the Comox fish very distinctly. 



