66 MARVELS OF FISH LIFE 



which is the fish that supplies the material for the huge 

 " canning " industries of that country, differs somewhat 

 from our salmon at home, and only spawns once in its 

 lifetime, and the summer run of these fish all die after 

 spawning. 



The changes in the appearance of a salmon during 

 its excursions into fresh water are of interest. The fish 

 leaves the sea with a bluish-black back, and glittering 

 silver sides dotted with black cross-marks. This is how 

 we see the salmon, but remember, to other fish it is 

 rendered inconspicuous by reflecting the colour of its 

 surroundings, and by its back appearing the same tone 

 as the rest of its body. When the silvery salmon first 

 «omes into fresh water it is covered with sea lice, and 

 if a fish be taken with these on its body, you may be 

 quite certain that it is only just run up, for the lice 

 very soon drop off in fresh water. 



After being a week or two out of the sea, the silvery 

 shades of the male are replaced first by a coppery hue, 

 and later by a rich red-brown. At the breeding season 

 the salmon, like the stickleback, becomes brilliant in 

 colour, his body having upon it several red and brown 

 zigzag markings. When the female has been in fresh 

 water for some time she assumes quite a dusky appear- 

 ance. The salmon immediately after spawning is a 

 miserable, emaciated object to look at, and is known as 

 a kelt. The kelt, however, recovers to a certain extent 

 in fresh water, and again becomes silvery in appearance, 

 but never regains its comely shape until it has been to 



