NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SALMON. 33 



indeed, a deputation of those omniscient authors and 

 witnesses could be induced to stay below water for a 

 few months, going down, say in November, taking their 

 seat where they could observe the deposition and de- 

 velopment of the ova, " sitting under the glassy, cool, 

 translucent wave," accompanying their charge to the 

 sea, and returning to their native element in autumn, 

 saturated with information, they would then, but not 

 till then, be competent to speak with the authority some 

 of them have assumed. There are, of course, difficulties 

 in the way of such a commission of inquiry ; but, look- 

 ing at the uselessness, and often mischievousiiess, of the 

 magisterial manner in which many people handle the 

 question, one is almost tempted to say, there would 

 be no harm in trying. In questions regarding the 

 natural history of the salmon, it will almost always be 

 found, except with regard to one or two points settled 

 by adequate experiment, that those people who have 

 seen most are inclined to say least, and that those who 

 have thought most are most at a loss what to think. 



The chief questions are, or have been, four in num- 

 ber : 1st, Is the Parr the young of the Salmon in 

 earliest infancy ? 2d, At what age does the Smolt 

 emigrate to salt water ? 3d, After what length of 

 absence does the emigrant return to fresh water ? th, 

 In what shape does he return, " Grilse" or Salmon ? 



It has happened, not unluckily, but rather super- 

 fluously, that the most decisive experiments in the 

 natural history of the salmon have been directed to 

 that point which was most capable of settlement by 



