THE SCALES OF THE SALMONID^ 269 



doubt but that many such discharges occur in the deeper 

 parts of the river beyond the ken of man. 



THE OVA OF SALMON 



The ova of the salmon is developed in capsules in its 

 ovary, and when mature these capsules rupture and drop 

 the ova in a more or less adhesive and uniform mass into 

 the abdominal cavity (not, of course, into the stomach or 

 any part of the alimentary channels). From there the ova, 

 when ripe, passes through two short oviducts and is vented 

 by the porus genitalis, situated between the anus and renal 

 apertures. Should the ova not be discharged in the natural 

 act of spawning, it is probable that after a period of retention 

 it will eventually pass away through the oviducts and thence 

 by the porus genitalis, and for a time leave recognizable 

 evidence of a passage of ova such as that which takes place 

 in spawning. 



It is not impossible that " rawners " may be classed as 

 being in this latter condition, and that the compact form 

 in which their ova has been held is broken up and the ova 

 subsequently vented. 



MR. HUTTON AND THE SPAWNING MARK 



I think that everyone admits the care and attention which 

 Mr. Hutton has given to the question of the examination of 

 salmon scales, and that we all owe him thanks for the work 

 he has done, but as I go to press, I notice in the latest number 

 of the Fishing Gazette, December 27th, 1913, he says, in a 

 letter on page 592 : 



' The Salmon and Trout Association are publishing 

 a paper dealing with the question in their December 

 Magazine, which I think will prove that no matter 

 how late a fish may be in entering a river to propagate 

 its species, and no matter how short a time it may 



