SALMONID^. 



61 



iSo. 2 ; and at the age of six months, he has grown to the size of three 

 inches and a quarter, and, except in dimensions, is exactly rendered 

 in No. 3 of the above cut. 



From these facts we arrive at two consequences. First, that the 

 growth of the young Salmon has been greatly overrated ; and, secondly, 

 that at a certain period of its life the Salmon is a Parr. The extent 

 to which the growth of the Salmon has been overrated, will be per- 

 ceived at once, when it is shown that Dr. Knox, in the paper from 

 which I have already quoted, states that the fry which emerged from 

 their capsules on the 1st of April, were taken, on the 22d of the same 

 month, in the same year, as Smolts, vfith the fly, of the size of the 

 little finger. 



It was also generally believed tliat the fry of the year descended to 

 the sea that very spring, and returned, in the autumn, grilse, varying 

 from two to seven pounds weight. 



It is distinctly shown, however, by Mr. Shaw, that the young Sal- 

 mon, which is called a Pink while in the state represented above, 

 having perpendicular lateral bars or markings of a dusky gray color, 

 which were once supposed to be peculiar to the Parr, does not become 

 a Smelt, or go down to the sea until the second spring, tarrying a 

 whole year in the fresh water. 



Salmon Smolt, one year old. 



The fish here represented measured seven inches and a half in 

 length, and three inches and one-eighth in circumference. 



Its gill-covers were silvery, marked with a dark spot ; belly and 

 sides, up to the lateral line of the same, silvery color ; back and sides, 



