214 TJtirfi/-Second Aiinud] Meeting 



DISCUSSION OF MR. THOMPSON'S PAPER. 



Xear the beginning of his paper Mr. Thom})son said : 

 Since I have been aboard the Fish Hawk, 1 have liad some 

 conversation with Dr. Bean on the subject, he tells me that this 

 variety was found here l)efore there was any fish cultural work 

 done in the Fnited States. Such l)eing the case, it is highly im- 

 probable that any specimens of the European saibling shoukl 

 have been received and successfully transplanted into American 

 waters. This seems a very strong point in determining this ques- 

 tion of origin. 



Mr. Carter: I think Mr. Thompson spoke of the golden 

 trout being found in tlie waters of New Hampshire and Maine 

 only. They are also found in jSTorthern Vermont; they are in- 

 digenous there and are found more abundantly in Little Averill 

 pond than anywhere in the United States. 



^Ir. Tliompson : I knew they were found there, but had the 

 impression that they were transphuited. 



Dr. Bean : This paper of Mr. Thompson's has interested me 

 very greatly, and although its right to bear a distinct name has 

 been challenged by Mr. Garman, what the author of this paper 

 has written has given me a great deal of satisfaction, and I am 

 also very glad to learn that the golden trout is native to other 

 waters than those of Maine and New Hampshire — that is to be 

 expected. Gentlemen, you know that the trout and salmon, 

 numl^ering as they do aljout one hundred kinds of fish, as far as 

 we know at ])resent, are so little differentiated even today, that 

 the experts differ in their notions as to what is a species and 

 what is merely a local race. We know very little about the sal- 

 mon, notwithstanding the investigations of the Fisli Commis- 

 sions of various countries. We know that they are widespread, 

 that they are abundant in individuals, that they have curious 

 life histories, varying with different climates, but as to 

 the points in which they differ one from the other and 

 may be recognized l)y the average uian, then' is no 

 consensus of opinion. I doubt if there is a man to- 

 day wbo can even tell whether the salmon originated 

 in fresh water or in the sea. Tt is true that the (*anadian 

 (icological Survey found wliat apjM'ars to be a I'acific salmon in 



