22 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVAL SERVICE 
7 GEORGE V, A. 1917 
In the scale of the herring the characteristic markings, the elevated lines, run 
transversely across the scale; the winter check, concentrically placed, consequently 
crosses the regular lines at right angles laterally but runs nearly parallel with them 
medially. The rings are narrow and, since they are formed.at the margin of the 
scale, it is impossible to tell when a ring begins or when it ends, with any degree of 
accuracy. Hence Lea had to resort to many measurements and calculations of growth. 
Because of this difficulty it is possible to get scales more satisfactory than the 
herring scales, and it is for this reason that the scales of the spring salmon have 
been taken in preference. 
. The characteristic elevated lines on the salmon scales are quite different from 
those on the herring scales. The arrangement is concentric around amore or less nearly 
circular nucleus, so that each of these lines form rings, or rather partial rings, as few 
of them are completed on the exposed portion of the scale. These rings are wide apart 
in certain areas, while in other areas at regular intervals they are quite close together. 
Corresponding to the transparent rings on the herring scale, therefore, there are narrow 
bands of closely applied rings. The term “annual rings” must have a somewhat 
different significance in the two cases, although the cause may be similar, but it is 
possible that “winter check” can be applied equally well to each. The close band is 
so much wider than the ring in the herring scale that it is easily possible in the 
Majority of cases to decide when it begins or ends. 
As previously stated, spring salmon are to be obtained in the strait of Georgia 
at all times of the year, and hence, in all probability, some of them at least remain in 
the strait during the whole period of their existence in salt water. The fall, winter, 
and spring, 1914-15, were particularly favourable for getting material. As there was 
so little cold or stormy weather the handline fishermen were able to go out almost every 
day, seldom doing so without some return for their labours. A number of men 
from Departure Bay fished throughout the season, and it was a simple matter to obtain 
data at short intervals. The majority of the fish examined were caught by Mr. E. 
Webber, who made special effort to have the series as complete as possible. The 
temperature data were obtained from daily surface readings at the station, and 
occasional readings at depth. 
The appearance of a year’s growth on a salmon scale has a much closer approxi- 
mation to that of the growth in a twig of wood than that, of the herring scale. The 
area of distant rings corresponds to the loose texture of the spring and summer 
growth in the twig. The rings get closer during the fall until there is a compact band 
corresponding to the winter ring in the wood. It was to the time that the compact 
band made its appearance that special attention was paid. 
In the scales of fish caught in the summer time, with rare exceptions, there is 
always a wide area outside of any compact band, hence it was evident that this close 
band could not be formed at that time of the year. During the fall a certain amount 
of retardation was indicated since the lines near the margin were closer together. 
Later the beginning of the more compact band was evident in some scales, then in all, 
and still later the outer limit was reached and the distant lines appeared once more. 
In all scales of salmon caught from January 6 to March 17 there was indication 
of the check in growth at the margin. On the other hand, with but few exceptions, 
no scales obtained after April 22 and before November 27 had indication of retarda- 
tion at the margin. From March 17 to April 22 and from November 27 to January 5 
some show retardation at the margin while others do not, this being true even in 
specimens caught on the same day. ‘The period of check here corresponds so exactly 
with that reported by Lea for the herring that it can scarcely be considered a mere 
coincidence. As the time corresponds in general to the winter season, the term 
“winter check” is not inappropriate. - 
