THE SALMON F/MILY. 193 



ichthyologists, and perhaps several more of which no descrip- 

 tion has yet been given. As none of this genus are sporting 

 fish, I have only referred to G. alhus, the large Whitefish. 



Of the genus Malhtus, we have only one species, M. villosus, 

 the Capelin or Sparling, which is found on our north-east 

 coast. 



One of the characteristic marks, by which the most careless 

 observer can distinguish any species of Salmonidae, is the 

 second dorsal fin, which is always adipose, a mere carti- 

 lage, wanting in the usual fin-rays. Any fish that one meets 

 with having it, except a Catfish, may safely be set down as 

 one of the Salmon Family. 



The Salmonidae delight in cold waters, and their geo- 

 graphical range, whether inland or on the sea- coast, seldom 

 extends below the thirty-eighth parallel. Their value as an 

 article of food, and importance in a commercial point of view, 

 can hardly be appreciated, unless one enters into an investi- 

 gation of all the statistical information on record. 



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