THE SALMON FAMILY 179 
Genus SALMO 
It is discouraging to have to confess that there is no 
genus of fish about which there is so much conflict of 
opinion among ichthyologists as there is about that of Salmo. 
Yet, as befits the most important of our fresh-water fishes, 
it has received more attention than any other, both from 
men of science and from the Legislature. The sturgeon 
excepted, the largest, and without exception the choicest 
and most valuable, denizens of our lakes and rivers are 
of the salmon kind; they are at no pains to elude 
observation ; the migratory species, passing up our moderately- 
sized rivers, penetrate some of the most populous districts, 
and perform the functions of reproduction in water often 
so shallow as not to cover their backs. The non-migratory 
species lend themselves readily to semi-domestication and to 
artificial reproduction ; yet with all these opportunities of 
observation men have been unable to arrive at agreement 
upon some of the most obvious points for enquiry. 
The classification of the whole genus is peculiarly 
perplexing owing to the striking changes in appearance 
affecting the various species at successive stages of growth 
and at different seasons of the year; and also, probably, 
to the production of fertile hybrids between the different 
species. Dr. Gunther has arranged the genus Salmo into 
two groups—Sa/mones, or true salmon, distinguished by teeth 
extending over the whole length of the vomer, and Sa/ve/ini, 
or char, which carry teeth only on the front of the vomer— 
and thereby he has provided a convenient and intelligible aid 
to the study of the genus. And I desire not to be misunder- 
stood if, in the present review of British fresh-water fishes, 
I am unable to follow Dr. Gtinther in his further definition 
of the various species. Nobody will suspect me, either of 
disrespect to the conclusions to which he has been brought 
by faithful and laborious research, or of a desire to put my 
