74 



KENDALL: NEW ENGLAND SALMONS. 



of this second experiment supported the conclusions drawn from those of the first in 

 every particular. 



'The salmon marked in 1880, numbering 252 were released in the fresh waters of 

 Eastern river a small branch of the Penobscot. ... A small reward was offered for the 

 return of fish or tags taken the next spring, and twelve tags were received. Nine of the 

 fish bearing them were weighed and found in every instance to have fallen away in weight 

 since marking. No fully or partially mended fish were obtained or heard of that year, 

 but in June 1882, five prime salmon were recovered bearing the tags affixed in October 

 and November, 1880.' The following table shows the date for each individual: 



TABLE 8. 

 Record of Marking. 



Record of Recapture. 



Inasmuch as it has been a matter of common observation that all kelts, and particu- 

 larly those that have been stripped for fish cultural propagation, do not go off imme- 

 diately to the sea, Atkins was probably correct in his conclusion that his fish did not go 

 to sea until the spring following their Uberation as 'artificial' kelts. If so, while the period 

 from the time of liberation would be regarded as a long term of absence, in reaUty it 

 would be a considerably shorter time in which to attain the weights with which they 

 are credited. 



His experiment led Atkins to the conclusion that the salmon were four years old at 

 first maturity and that they were biennial spawners, saying that the results of this third 

 experiment coincide with those of the other two, and they leave little room for doubt 

 that it is the normal habit of the Penobscot salmon to spawn every second year. 



It was assumed that the salmon were four years old because it was beheved that the 

 smolt migrated to the sea at two years of age, although there was no definite knowledge 



