SALMON AND TROUT IN ALASKA. 9 



seem to introduce inconsistency into the definitions adopted. Thus 

 under some circumstances a yearling charr might be found of less size 

 than a salmon fry; but it is believed that b}^ use of the above nomen- 

 clature an exact interpretation of language will always be made 

 possible. As in all instances involving individual characters, physio- 

 logical and physical limits may overlap. Salmon fry usually begin 

 to feed before the complete absorption of the yolk, a remnant of the 

 yolk being persistent even for some time after the ventral walls have 

 united and all outward appearance of the sac has been lost; and 

 hence the migrating young of the salmon could with equal propriety 

 be termed fry, since many still have yolk remnants, or fingerlings, 

 since they have begun to a small degree to feed and have become 

 over an inch in length. In this paper, in all cases where the schools 

 contain many individuals with the embryonic fin membrane still evi- 

 dent, the term "fry" is retained. In case of the humpback and dog 

 salmon young which were taken in salt water, it is sometimes impos- 

 sible to know whether "fingerling" or "yearling" is the proper desig- 

 nation, but since it seems probable that the greater number were 

 less than one year of age, the term "fingerling" is used. In the case 

 of the coho the distinction is even more doubtful, but is applied with 

 as much discrimination as the state of our knowledge permits. 



The terms "parr" and "grilse" have come into American use from 

 the British writers on Salmonidse, but the latter designation has 

 attained a meaning somewhat different from the original. 



"Grilse," as applied to the Atlantic salmon (Salmo solar) by both 

 American and British writers, refers to the incompletely grown fish 

 which return from the sea to the rivers to spawn. Unlike the Pacific 

 salmon (OncorTiynchus) , the Atlantic salmon, both male and female, 

 mature perfect sex products before completing their growth, and after 

 spawning in the same manner as the grown fish of one or more years' 

 greater age, return to the sea as "grilse-kelts" to continue their growth 

 and return the following season (or second year after) as "salmon." 

 What are known as "grilse" among Pacific salmon are the small 

 males, presumably lacking at least one year of the usual age of adults 

 of the species, which leave the sea for the spawning beds, mature per- 

 fect milt, but after "spawning" die in the same manner as fully 

 grown males. Females in no instance show this precocity. While 

 there are sometimes small females among mature fish, they grade 

 into the regular size in such manner that they can only be supposed 

 to be those individuals which b}^ heredity or unfavorable environ- 

 ment have failed by a greater or less degree to reach the standard 

 size. (See p. 86-87.) 



The term "parr" is applied in general to young fish still in fresh 

 water and showing the dark bars or parr marks. They may be fin- 

 gerlings, or yearlings, or even adults. The males of this stage in the 



