78 



these three species certain differences, which caused 

 me to become attached especiall}" to the California 

 salmon. Its flesh is very superior in quality, as has 

 been remarked by certain authors, to that of the rain- 

 bow trout, and this is an important thing to be taken 

 into consideration in its acclimatization. In order to 

 make the comparison it is necessary to eat fish of the 

 same age, raised under the same conditions, and at 

 libert3\ 



It will be seen then that the rainbow trout is far 

 from having the same delicacy as the California 

 salmon. Its flesh is a little hard and dry, resembling 

 that of the white fish, while the quinnat has fine, 

 tender, and creamy flesh like the Scotch trout or the 

 very young salmon. 



The California salmon has another advantage over 

 its two congeners — its reproductive period is very ad- 

 vanced. It spawns in the second half of October, 

 while the l^rook trout spawns in December, and the 

 rainbow not until April. This peculiarit}^ is of the 

 highest importance ; it is that upon which is based ni}^ 

 preference for the California salmon in the method of 

 culture which we are to explain. 



In the enumeration of these qualities there has 

 been less question about the brook trout than the other 

 two species. This is because the fish has not the same 

 adaptability to artificial culture ; it is more capricious 

 in its habits; it is oftener subject to inexplicable nior- 

 talit}', and on these accounts I have relegated it to the 

 third place, at least for the present. In that which 

 follows I will confine myself to the California salmon. 

 In the first place we must ask ourselves the ques- 

 tion whether the California salmon is susceptible of 

 culture in ponds. On this subject I have made numer- 

 ous experiments, which have furnished precise and 

 conclusive results, and which prove that it lives very 

 well in ponds, thriving in them remarkabh^ well. 



