8 THE SALMON. 



turn from it to the fresh waters they then appear 

 as perfect salmon. These positions, however, some 

 naturalists reject, and assert that they are each of a 

 distinct species. This idea is founded on the fol- 

 lowing observations: 1st, That gilses when they go 

 up the rivers in July and August are full of spawn, 

 therefore they must have arrived at maturity : we 

 admit the fact, but deny, the conclusion ; for we 

 have noticed them even in the smout state to con- 

 tain the rudiments of milts and roes ; and if we look 

 at some land animals, we find them capable of re- 

 production long before they attain their full growth, 

 which is undoubtedly the case with many fishes. 

 The hog and rabbit scarcely leave the teat before 

 they become parents themselves. 2dly, That perfect 

 salmon sometimes weigh only five or six pounds, 

 while gilses have been known to be upwards of six 

 or seven pounds* weight ; this is granted, but it 

 surely is a very insufficient proof of their being of a 

 different species. Have we not daily instances 

 throughout the whole animal creation, that of the 

 same species some are larger when growing, than 

 others are at full growth ? Sdly, That salmon are 

 forked, and gilses straight in the tails : this is in 

 some degree true ; but it cannot be disputed that 

 many animals change the appearance of their parts 

 when approaching from an immature to a mature 

 state. If gilses were a distinct species, they would 

 in all probability appear in our rivers at all seasons, 

 in the same manner as salmon ; but it is a known 

 fact, that they are seldom seen before the middle of 

 July, or beginning of August ; that is, until such 



