SCALE READINGS OF MAINE PARR AND ADULT SALMON. 57 



On October 28, 1900, a single ripe male, 17 cm. to fork of the tail, was found by the 

 present writer on a gravel shoal in the East Branch of the Penobscot. On September 6 

 to 10, 1901, the present writer also collected 28 specimens of young salmon in a pool 

 immediately below the dam at Matagamon Lake, East Branch of the Penobscot, ranging 

 in length to fork of the tail from 14.5 to 22 centimeters and averaging 17.6 centimeters. 

 The smallest fish was immature, of uncertain sex. One example 14.8 centimeters to fork 

 of tail was an immature male, and one 15 centimeters in the same dimension was an 

 immature female. The balance were males with well-developed milts which would have 

 ripened that fall. 



In 1902, eight young salmon from 9.1 to 18.5 centimeters to fork of tail were collected 

 at various places along the East Branch from the mouth of the Wisataquoik to Mata- 

 gamon dam. They averaged 14.7 centimeters. The smallest was a very immature fish, 

 as was also the 14.8 centimeter fish, both uncertainly males; the others were males with 

 developing milts which undoubtedly would have ripened that fall. These fish were 12.7 

 to 16.2 centimeters to fork. 



The foregoing references to male parrs by no means signify new discoveries for, over 

 90 years ago, John Shaw called attention to that condition both in parrs which were in 

 retaining ponds and in the river. He wrote (1840, p. 560-561) in 1839, 'All the males [of 

 parrs] at the age of eighteen months, of the several broods in mj^ possession, last autumn 

 (1838) attained a most important corroborative stage [pertaining to the identity- of the 

 parr with the salmon] viz., that of showing a breeding state, by having matured the 

 milt, which could be made to flow freely from their bodies, by the sUghtest pressure of 

 the hands. The females of the same broods, however, although in equal health and 

 condition, did not exhibit a corresponding appearance in regard to the maturing of roe. 

 The male and female parrs in the river, of a similar age, are found respectively in pre- 

 cisely a corresponding state, which may surely be admitted as most important evidence 

 in support of the fact, that all these individuals are, in truth, specifically the same.' 



Shaw goes on to say : 'The circumstance of the male parrs with their milt matured and 

 flowing in profusion from their bodies, being at all times found in company with the 

 adult female salmon while depositing her spawn in the river, and the female parrs being 

 in every instance absent, suggested the idea that the males were probably present with 

 the female salmon at such seasons for a sexual purpose. And to demonstrate the fact, 

 I, in January 1837, took a female salmon weighing 14 lb. from the spawning bed, from 

 whence I also took a male parr weighing 13-^ oz., with the milt of which I impregnated 

 a quantity of her ova, and placed it in the stream E, pond No. 2, where to my great 

 astonishment, the process succeeded in every respect as it had done with that which 

 had been impregnated by the adult male salmon, and exhibited, from the first visible 

 appearance of the embryo fish up to their assuming the migratory dress, the utmost 

 health and vigour.' 



Scale Readings of Maine Parr and Adult Salmon. 



Collections of salmon parr which I made in the East Branch of the Penobscot 30 years 

 and more ago, possibly may throw a little hght on the smolt migration of that river. 



