NATURAL HISTORY OF BRITISH SALMONIDJ^. 13? 



The usual time of salmon spawning is from November until 

 the latter end of January or the beginning of February. 1 As the 

 all-important operation approaches their colours undergo a still 

 further deterioration, the general hue of the body in the males 

 assuming a browner or more golden tinge, and the cheeks being 

 marked with orange-coloured stripes ; the lower jaw elongates, 

 and a gristly projection or horn turns upwards from the point, 

 which is used by the salmon as an organ of offence in its con- 

 tests with other fish. In this state the males are called ' Red 

 fish,' or are said to be ' on the reds.' The females are some- 



1 



MODEL OF FIRST SALMON LADDER APPROVED BY THE HOME OFFICE. 



what darker in colour, and are known by the name of ' Black 

 fish.' The process of spawning is as follows : A pair of fish, 

 male and female, select a gravelly shallow suitable for the 

 purpose, which is generally occupied also by other spawners, 

 both salmon and trout, as well as by a considerable number 

 of male parrs. The female deposits her eggs in shallow 

 furrows in the gravel, to which they adhere by a thin coating 

 of glutinous matter, the male at the same time shedding his 



1 There are, however, exceptional rivers, both earlier and later, as already 

 pointed out ; and it is probable that many of the so-called ' barren fish,' entering 

 the fresh water in November and December, spawn in the succeeding October. 



