62 KENDALL: NEW ENGLAND SALMONS. 



relatively small river systems, rather than in the large systems. Might not a relatively 

 large system like the Miramichi, with its numerous tributaries and system, as a whole 

 vary greatly in age classes? May not each of these different age-classes be produced in 

 different tributaries or sections of the river? 



Many years ago it was said that the southwest branch of the Miramichi differed from 

 the northwest branch in the size of the salmon. It has been claimed that small salmon 

 produce small eggs and consequently small progeny. Whether this is an individual or 

 hereditary trait, wherever there is a preponderance of small salmon, the result of propa- 

 gation would be a predominance of small young. If small parr require a longer time in 

 which to grow to the smolt stage the preponderance of three year or older smolts would 

 logically be attributed to a preponderance of small parents. From the 834 Miramichi 

 salmon discussed by Huntsman, even with positive knowledge that they all were fish 

 of that river, it is not possible to tell what section of the river they represent. 



There is some evidence, that, if the fish of the two sections are not different hereditary 

 races, they may be regarded as environmental strains. That is, the immediately obtain- 

 ing environmental conditions determine whether the fish produced there grow fast or 

 slowly and this again determines the time for the migration of the smolt to the sea, which, 

 as has been held, is reflected in the age of the fish when they return for their first spawn- 

 ing. The facts learned concerning 'divided migrations' and alternating 'short' and 'long' 

 periods between spawning migrations do not necessarily oppose such a hypothesis. 

 Rodd's demonstration that fish marked in the fall sometimes return as early fish does not 

 prove that such races, strains, or whatever they may be called, do not exist. 



The foregoing discussion pertains to salmon under natural conditions and not to those 

 affected by possible mixtures in fish hatcheries or affected by fisheries. 



Huntsman (1931, p. 92-94) writes under the heading Early Run versus Late R\m 

 Fish: 'The two pronounced "runs" of salmon have been a striking feature of the fishery 

 from the earUest times. In the year 1930 as determined by Messrs. Kerr and Blair, the 

 early nm on the Miramichi occurred during the week following June 17, or at least 

 was at its best then. The late run began about the end of September and reached its 

 maximum in the first part of October. What is the explanation of the phenomenon? 



'For a very long time it has been claimed by the fishermen that the two runs on the 

 Miramichi represented different kinds of fish and that propagation and protection of the 

 late run was of very Uttle use for the early fish, which alone they caught. It must always 

 be considered as possible that they are racially distinct, for there is the usual difficulty 

 of proving a negative.' Further on he adds: 'We may safely conclude, however, that 

 man's experiment lasting for more than 80 years in restricting fishing to the early run 

 and encouraging reproduction (natural as well as artificial) of the late run has succeeded 

 neither in materially reducing the early run nor in materially increasing the late run. 

 It would, therefore, be most extraordinary if the two runs were found to consist of 

 distinct races.' 



Nevertheless they may be racially distinct, for aU the salmon taken in the open 

 season are not on their way up river, for it has not been shown that salmon which are to 



