376 Sport and Life. 



ascending Fraser River do not return to the sea.* I can see no room for 

 such possible doubt. The experience of the natives (who, by the way, are 

 keen observers of natural events) is supported by the concurrent observation 

 of the European residents. No solitary specimen has ever been discovered- 

 endeavouring to descend ; and there are certain positions where it would 

 be impossible for the fish to pass downward unobserved or undetected. 



" For instance, at the discharge of Fraser's Lakef the narrow outlet is- 

 constantly occupied with nets, set both by the natives and the whites, for 

 the capture of trout and other fish. These nets, completely investing the 

 shallow passage, are set throughout the year, save only during the ascent of 

 the shoals of innumerable salmon (Tdlo), when it would be impossible to- 

 keep them down. These shoals, after passing through the lake, die in 

 myriads amid the shallows of its feeding tributary, where they spawn. The 

 same condition of circumstances exists at the outlet of Stuart's Lake, and 

 elsewhere. 



" The process by which the continuation of the species is carried on 

 seems to be as follows : In the month of April the fry are hatched, and 

 descend in the course of the summer to the ocean, meeting the grown up 

 shoals then ascending. Remaining in the sea until they reach maturity, 

 the recent fry in turn ascend ; and thus, from year to year, the periodical 

 supply is maintained. 



" It is impossible, however, to conjecture what length of time elapses 

 between the hatching of the spawn and the period of maturity. Making 

 every allowance for the rapidity of growth for which the genus is remarkable, 

 we can scarcely conceive the variety in question to attain to their full size 

 within a year ; we must therefore assume that the young fish, after reaching 

 the ocean, remain there for several years, until at length, in perfect maturity, 

 they are impelled irresistibly by their instincts to ascend the rivers, there to- 

 accomplish the last important function of their existence. J 



* "Upon Fraser's River the utmost limit to which the salmon attains is Tete 

 Jaune's Cache, distant 725 miles from the sea. Upon the Columbia they 

 reach, by the McGillivray Fork, to its very source, a small lake in the spur of 

 the Rocky Mountains, heading in with the Kootanais River. This lake, before 

 the winter sets in, is filled with dead and dying salmon. The distance from the 

 sea is about 1300 miles." 



f " Here, as at the discharge of all the lakes, there is a considerable space of 

 open water throughout the winter. These mares, as they are technically called 

 by the French- Canadians, are but slightly affected by the severest cold." 



J " In support of this position, I may mention that in the Gulf of Georgia, and 

 throughout the Straits of Fuca and its neighbouring waters, the several' 

 varieties of salmon are caught, in sound condition, throughout the year." 



