IV -THE SALMON OF THE DANUBE, Oil THE HUCHO, (SALMO 

 HUCHO,) AND ITS INTRODUCTION INTO AMERICAN WATERS. 



I 



By Rudolph Hessel. 



[XoTE. — The following' communication upon tlie Uncho Tvas prepared 

 by Mr. Itiidolpli Hessel, at my request, and embodies some facts of much, 

 interest in reference to this fish. The pro[)riety of introducing so vora- 

 cious a species, and one that remains and feeds entirely in fresh waters, 

 where the sea-salmon occurs, or can be introduced, may perhaps be 

 questioned, but whether it might not be phmted to advantage in tlie more 

 southern waters of the United States, or even in the Mississippi Biver, 

 is well worthy of consideration. 



S. F. BAIED. 



I 



Tlie Danube salmon differs from the other Salmonidw by its more cylin- 

 drical and elongated body. The back is of a dark brownish-green ; the 

 belly, silver-white, and on its sides are black, round, and half-moon- 

 shai)ed spots, which are more crowded along the upper part of the back: 

 in this exhibiting a resemblance in marking to the sea-trout. 



With increasing age (tisli of 12 to 20 pounds and more) the sides ex- 

 hibit a reddish tint, w^hich becomes of a beautiful rose-color during the 

 breeding season, and gives rise in some jjlaces to the name of " red- 

 fish," not to be mistaken, however, tor the " Bothel,''' (Halmo uinbla, or 

 salreUnns.J 



The Danube salmon surpasses all other Salmonidcv in size, and attains 

 a weight of 40 to GO and 100 [)ounds. In rare cases, specimens even of 

 120 pounds have been caught. Its flesh is almost like that of the sal- 

 mon of the Rhine in qualit}^, but is white, while that of all the other 

 German >Sahnonid<T is rod. 



Aspecial peculiarity of this fish is its limited geographical distribution, 

 occurring only in the streams emptying into the Black Sea, especially 

 the Danube and its tributaries. When young (weighing from 12 to IS 

 pounds) it has its abode in the deep, rapid, mountain branches of the 

 Danube, and afterward descends into the river itself, in the lower por- 

 tion of which, near Galacz, Semlin, &c., it is found of fully developed size. 

 The rivers Drave, Save, and Theiss, the principal soutliern tributaries of 

 the Danube, also abound in full-grown fish. It is also frequently caught 

 in the northwesterly tributaries, above Vienna — the Inn, Lech, Isar, Sal- 

 rach, Altmilld, Ilegen, Iller, and even the small Brenz; indeed, generally, 

 everywhere in the Upper Danube of Wiirtemberg. Except as indicated 

 S. Mis. 71 11 



