448 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [22] 
In the Jean salmon (Table VIII) there is, therefore, the following 
quantity (approximated) of fat: 
Decrease of 
Grams. percentage. 
Probable decrease in weight of body ....-. 413 at 93 = 334 
ineplacedaby"OVariumnt 6) neo geese ae 1,149 at 9.3 = D0GrS 
Remainder of muscle, November1........ 3,378 at 4.0 = 135.1 
Probable total loss Oftat i. .c2 cee et ees oe eee 280. 4 
Subtract consumption of fat of 1,149 ovarium, at 9 per cent. (max- 
AENUNTIO) © <2 ares fd SE eee eee eee ey ots, See a Nee aye ee ee 103. 4 
And there remains for self-consumption ...........-.... 177.0 
We cannot form an opinion as to the use made of the excess of albu- 
men and fat, or as to the formation of phosphoric fat from one source or 
the other, until we have reliable average figures showing the quantity 
of albumen contained in the ovarium. 
There is no doubt that the muscle contains more than enough phos- 
phorie acid to supply all necessary phosphorus for the ovarium, at 1.1 
per cent. phosphoric acid in the fresh ovarium against 2, 3-2, 6 per cent. 
of the firm substance in the muscle. 
_ By the agreement of all these figures with my hypotheses, I consider 
it proved beyond a doubt that our salmon of the beginning of August 
are identical with the November salmon, and that, with few exceptions,. 
there is no addition to their number of more mature fish with more sub- 
stance in their bodies. 
The microscopical examination fully corroborates the opinion that the 
side-muscle is really the most important source from which the food of 
the fish is derived, and which aids in advancing sexual maturity. Even 
the winter and spring salmon (especially the thin ones) show more or 
less distinct rows of little drops of fat between the fine elementary fibrils. 
of the considerably thicker muscle-fibers, such as are known as indica- 
tions of so-called deterioration of the muscular tissue. About midsum- 
mer, the very time when the ovarium commences to grow more rapidly, 
the number of these drops of fat increases considerably, and even goes. 
so far as tomake some of the fibers quite opaque. The most prominent 
example of degeneration is in a separate thin muscle plate, which lies. 
on the side of the body directly under the skin (the skin-musele). There 
remain, however, almost intact and free from fat, all the other muscles, 
pectoral. fin, neutral fin, dorsal fin, caudal fin, the muscles of the jaw 
and tongue, the upper and lower Jong muscle, and the tail muscles. 
proper. Only the ventral fin showed in some places faint indications of 
degeneration. 
With this, I find there agree the numerous figures obtained by me in: 
weighing the fin-muscles, of which I will give, as a single example, the. 
data relating to the pectoral fins. 
