SALMON. 35 



after the impregnation of the spawn. At eighteen 

 months old the fry measure six inches in length, and 

 the milt of the male is matured, and can be made to 

 flow from the body freely by the slightest pressure ; but 

 the females of a similar age do not exhibit a corre- 

 sponding appearance as to the maturity of the roe. The 

 male is at this time in the autvimn of his second year, and 

 lies about and in the spawning beds of the large Salmon, 

 where he impregnates the ova. The following spring 

 he is about seven inches and a half long, Avhen beautiful 

 silver scales grow over the spots and bars which have 

 characterised him up to this period; and the majority of 

 the breed then congregate, and go to sea with the first 

 floods in May. 



In the latter end of April, 1842, Mr. Shaw obligingly 

 sent me two parcels of the Salmon fry, which arrived in 

 good condition ; and although not so glossy as when first 

 captured, were made brighter in appearance by the appli- 

 cation of water. I carried them immediately to Barnes, 

 the residence of Mr. Edward Cooke ; and having selected 

 the most silvery amongst them, I begged him to paint 

 it as faithfully as possible ; and after he had so done I 

 desired that, during my absence, he would remove the 

 scales from the upper half of the same fish, and paint 

 it again as it shovild appear after such removal. The 

 result Avill be seen in the accompanying lithograph, with 

 the execution of which I did not at all interfere. It 

 proves what has been asserted as to change of outward 

 appearance. 



All the fry, however, which go to sea at this period, 

 D 2 



