30 | DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVAL SERVICE 
7 GEORGE V, A. 1917 
In the fish of the “stream type,” since the growth in the first year, after the 
alevin stage is passed, is small, there is little variation as given in inches, for the 
length at the end of the first year. The extremes are 3-2 and 4-1, with the greatest 
number at 3-6 and the next at 3-9. In the second-year growth there is a range from 
7-7 to 12-8, but nearly all are between 8-4 and 12-0. The length at the end of the 
second year varies from 11-4 to 16-5, but nearly all are between 12-1 and 15-9. In 
the third-year growth there are three exceptionally low, 5-1, 5-8, and 6-4, and apart 
from this there is a variation from 6-9 to 12-5, the majority being between 8-3 and 11-0. 
At the end of the third year, with the exception of six abnormal ones, one of which 
is only 16-9, the length varies from 21-1 to 26-9, and is fairly well distributed between 
these extremes. In the fourth year the increase is small in two cases, 5-0 and 5-3 and 
high in two others, 8-9 and 9-8. The remainder falls between 5-7 and 8-4, with the 
majority between 7-0 and 8-0. The length at the end of the fourth year varies from 
25-8 to 34-0, but nearly all fall between 29-5 and 31-5. Of those caught in the fifth 
year, all but three were obtained on June 22. The average length when caught was 
32.4, with a variation from 28-5 to 36.5. 
For material from such a variety of sources, the growth values for each year 
show very little difference in the different classes. The differences are greater in 
fishes of the “sea type,” since, as the spring salmon do not all spawn at the same time 
of the year, some of the fry must be more or less than a year old at the end of the 
first winter check. With the fish of the “stream type” the growth of the first year 
is so small that all start on much the same basis at the beginning of the second 
spring. 
There is one point quite prominent in both types, and hence worth considering. 
Those fish that have matured in their fourth year have higher average growths 
throughout than those that do not mature until the fifth year. From this it would 
seem that the larger fish of a year-class spawn in the fourth year and the smaller 
ones of the class spawn in the fifth year. If this is true, we should expect that those 
that mature as grilse in the third year should be the largest of the year class. Too 
few were examined to justify any definite statement, but it may be said that these do 
not show that that might not be so. One would need to get several fish of the same 
year-class for three years in succession ‘before the conclusion would be sufficiently 
definite. é 
The comparison would be more complete if six-year or even seven-year fish 
(Gilbert records one fish in its seventh year) could have been included. Gilbert says 
very little about the six and seven-year fish that he has seen. The sixth-year scale 
that he figures is of the “stream type” it would be interesting to know if all the 
others were, as well as the nature of the seventh-year fish. The data from such would 
have a decided bearing on the question here discussed, but in this region, at any 
rate, they would not appear to be sufficiently numerous to be a factor in the com- 
mercial phase of the question. 
As quite a complete series of fish up to 85 inches was obtained, and as the weight 
of these over 5 inches was recorded, it is possible to get a satisfactory graph to show 
the ratio of weight to length. The curve is as regular as one could expect from the 
degree of accuracy of weights and measurements. There were only ten fish in the 
eollection over 35 inches, and these show much irregularity in weight. There were: 
four 35-5, varying from 21 to 28-5 pounds; one 36-0, weighing 28; one 36-5, 25; 
one 37-5, 39; one 88, 28; one 39, 35-5; and one 40-0 weighing 36-5 pounds. 
he sex was not determined in the fish obtained from New Westminster and 
Vancouver, hence the data are not sufficient to say definitely if there was much differ- 
ence in weight between the males and the females of the same length, as this lot 
contained a large proportion of the mature specimens. In those where the sex was 
determined there was no material difference. 
