[fraser] PACIFIC SALMON 211 



than those from Nanaimo, particularly in the first two years. Later, 

 the Qualicum fish regain the lost ground, more especially in the spawn- 

 ing year, and become as large as the Nanaimo fish. The Qualicum 

 fish arrive in the inner waters later than the Nanaimo fish, which in 

 turn are later than the Chemainus fish, hence while the Nanaimo 

 fish and more particularly the Chemainus fish have greatly deterior- 

 ated, the Qualicum fish are still in good condition. It would appear, 

 therefore, that they are also later in leaving the feeding grounds, 

 and if they are this would account for the greater growth in the spawn- 

 ing year. The average length of the 4-year and the 5-year classes is 

 the same in each but the average of the 3-year Nanaimo fish is some- 

 what less than that of the 3-year Qualicum, possibly because of the 

 presence of some smaller Chemainus fish, mostly in their third year, 

 being included. 



The first year growth ranges from 8-3 to 13-0 inches with an 

 average of 10-8; the second year 5-8 to 9-8 with an average of 7-8, 

 the third year, 3-9 to 8 «0 with an average of 5 -8, if the 3-year class is 

 included and 5-7 if it is not, the fourth year 2-5 to 6-7, with an aver- 

 age of 4-3, with the 4-year class included, the fifth year, 2-8 to 4-4, 

 with an average of 3-4, with necessarily only the 5-year included. 

 The growth of the incompleted third year of the 3-year class is greater 

 than that of the completed third year of the 4 or 5-year classes and 

 that of the uncompleted fourth year of the 4-year class is greater 

 than that of the completed year of the 5-year class. This arises from 

 the fact that late in the year when the dog salmon are caught, the 

 growth for the year is practically complete and because of the tend- 

 ency in these fish for the largest individuals of any year class to mature 

 in the shortest period. 



The length at the end of the second year ranges from 14-4 to 

 22-6 inches, with an average of 18-6, at the end of the third year, 

 20-6 to 28-5, with an average of 24-4, if the 3-year class is included 

 and 23-7 if it is not, at the end of the fourth year, 24-0 to 32-5 with 

 an average of 28-0, and at the end of the fifth year, 28-0 to 33-5, 

 with an average of 30-2. 



Separate frequency curves for the Qualicum and the Nanaimo 

 fish have not been made. The whole lot is taken together. 



The following table shows the length frequency for male and 

 females in the 3 and 4-year classes. The 2 and the 5-year classes are 

 not well enough represented to make it worth while giving these. 



Sec. v. Sig. 14 



