SPAWNING. 67 



She is now termed properly a Baggit, and the male a Kipper; 

 and the two^ generallj'^j Kelts. 



Before entering the salt water, they linger awhile in the 

 brackish water of the tide-ways, as they did on ascending the 

 rivers, obtaining, it is said, thereby a release from certain para- 

 sitical animals, generated, these by the fresh, these by the salt 

 water, at each change of waters. 



In Great Britain, the period of the Salmon's spawning varies 

 from November to the end of January. They have been care- 

 fully watched during the whole process, as have the eggs after 

 their deposition, so that the length of time which it takes them 

 to attain to maturity is accurately known. This time has been 

 ascertained by Mr. Shaw, in a series of experiments, of which I 

 shall have occasion to speak more fully hereafter, to be about 



114 days, when the temperature of the water is . 36° 



101 days, 43° 



90 days, 45° 



These experiments were performed in the open air, and in 

 natural streams, liable to the ordinary influences of the atmo- 

 sphere and weather. 



Dr. Knox, however, as is recorded in the Transactions of 

 the E-oyal Society of Edinburgh, observed a pair of Salmon 

 which completed their spawning, and covered up their ova with 

 gravel, in the usual way, on the 2nd of November. This was in 

 one of the northern tributaries of the Tweed. 



On the 25th of February, or at the end of one hundred and 

 sixteen days, the ova were dug up, and found unchanged. On 

 being removed, however, at this stage, and placed in bottles of 



