THE SALMON 
(Salmo salar) 
THERE are so many mysteries connected with the life-history of the 
salmon that it is impossible for any one individual to solve them all: 
but as they have been the object of my closest study for over thirty 
years, I trust that what I have to say may help to elucidate some 
of these problems. 
The ova are deposited in the gravel by the female salmon 
during the autumn, the male fish covers them with milt, and the time 
required for hatching is from 
seventy to one hundred and 
twenty days, according to the 
temperature of the water. On 
emerging from the eggs the 
young soon begin to show signs 
of life, and wriggle energetic- 

ally through the gravel to reach 
the ;sitiace.. it this: Stage 
they are called ‘“alevins,” and 
hardly yet have the appearance 
of fish, for attached to their 
bodies, a little behind the gill-opening, is a large bag, the yolk- 
Fic. 1.—Alevins. 
or umbilical- sac, containing enough nutriment to sustain them 
for several weeks. Before, however, this is entirely absorbed, 
they begin to search for natural food and push energetically up- 
stream. In a short time, after having assumed the true fish shape, 
I B 
