How to obtain it. 295 



of their existence. That this applies to the " parrs " in some at 

 least of our waters is beyond doubt. There is a good deal of 

 rather confusing evidence forthcoming on the subject, but I have f 

 found from experience that some reach the smolt stage the first J 

 season, that is as yearlings ; some the second, or as two-year-olds ; \ 

 and a few not till the third season, or as three-year-olds. The 

 same occurs amongst trout and char. From the time they enter 

 the sea until they re-appear in our rivers, nothing very definite seems 

 to be known of their habits. This part of the life history of the 

 salmon should by all means be worked out. From the time he 

 enters a river to the time he returns, either to the sea or to 



" The dust from whence he sprung," 



we do know something, but we ought to know a good deal more. 

 We know too well that violent fungus epidemics occur in our 

 rivers, and we know also that the greatest destruction of salmon 

 by this means has been followed by great plenty. This is not 

 suggestive of the salmon being a " total abstainer," as so many 

 of his friends would make him out to be. There is no doubt that I 

 old kelts destroy a great many young fish, and when these old ( 

 kelts are removed the result is benefit to the river. The supply f 

 in the rivers of Alaska keeps up, notwithstanding the great des- i 

 truction of adult salmon. One fact is worth noting. The fungus I 

 chiefly attacks them after spawning. They succeed then in per- 

 forming the duty that impels them to thread their way hundreds of 

 miles up rivers full of difficulties and dangers. 



In this country, although there are exceptions, possibly owing 

 partly to climatic variations, and to the effects of hill drainage, 

 etc., yet I have found that as a rule the salmon succeed in 

 depositing their ova before they die. I venture the assertion that 

 there is a very great probability that if all the large salmon in a.^ 

 river deposited their eggs and then died, that it might be the best! 

 thing for that river that ever happened to it. I do not say that it 

 would be so, but that no great harm would accrue seems to be 

 certain. The salmon of Kamschatka have had their numbers 

 decimated, and yet they have continued their race, and the same 

 applies to those of Alaska, 



These facts in the life history of the salmon are instructive. 



