THE SALMON 197 
the parents. The late Frank Buckland reckoned that a female 
salmon produced about nine hundred eggs to every pound of 
her gross weight; thus a fish of 20 lb. should contain 
18,000 ova. ‘The period which intervenes between deposition 
and hatching varies according to temperature. Mr. Armistead, 
of the Solway Fishery, says that he has known the eggs to be 
hatched in thirty days, but in very cold water this may be 
deferred as long as 160 days. When first extruded, the ova 
adhere to each other, but in the course of an hour or two they 
separate, each becoming a round independent globe, of a bright 
orange colour, the size of a small pea, and enclosed in an 
elastic envelope. For a period of from twenty-four to forty- 
eight hours after impregnation the ova may be freely handled, 
and will bear transport ; but after that they become exceedingly 
sensitive of disturbance. Mr. Armistead mentions an instance 
in point which occurred in his hatchery. A tray of eggs 
received a slight concussion nine days after impregnation ; the 
result was that 25 per cent. were picked out dead within a few 
days. With proper care and suitable appliances the percentage 
of loss by death between impregnation and hatching ought not 
to exceed 5 per cent. 
About halfway through the period of incubation two little 
dark dots appear in each egg—the eyes of the embryo ; after 
which the ova can be moved and handled with impunity, 
always premising that they are not exposed to a higher 
temperature than 45° Fahrenheit. Subject to this precaution, 
‘eyed ova” may be sent long distances by road or rail without 
detriment. 
Anxiety is often expressed by persons interested in salmon- 
fisheries for the fate of spawn deposited in comparatively 
shallow water during floods ; but this matter they may safely 
leave to that mysterious form of sagacity which we describe as 
instinct. In no part of the business of living is this secret 
power more manifest among wild animals than in provision 
for their young. Low as they stand in the scale of vertebrate 
