214 ON THE GROWTH OF THE SALMON. 



the milter and immaturity of the spawner, I have ex- 

 plained in the preceding chapter; and all I wish at 

 present to deduce, in connection with that explanation, 

 from the facts stated, is, that the female parr, on its 

 descent as a smolt, retaining as it does the unspawned 

 ova, is in a condition to ascend shortly after, in order to 

 effect its discharge; and this it does, without question, 

 as a grilse, in summer or autumn. 



It has been asserted, however, and very recently, that 

 in order to spawn, salmon do not require to enter the 

 fresh water at all, and that hundreds effect that object 

 along the line of coast, in bays, creeks, and marine 

 lochs. This argument may possibly be brought to bear 

 upon the matter in hand j and some may affirm that the 

 yearling fish, under these circumstances, invariably de- 

 posit their ova in the salt water. Such a supposition 

 can hardly stand a hearing, but I shall not pass it over 

 altogether in silence. 



That salmon, or even sea-trout, ever deposit their ova 

 in salt water is, in the first place, a mere conjecture, 

 unconfirmed by a single fact or incident falling under 

 the observation of those that form it. It is, moreover, a 

 conjecture rendered greatly improbable, when the ascer- 

 tained habits of that species of fish which is most closely 

 allied to the salmon are held in view, I mean the com- 

 mon fresh-water trout. These, the fresh-water trout 

 inhabiting all lakes or ponds fed by streams or even 

 rills of insignificant depth, breed freely; but where 

 there are no such feeders, nor any regular escape of 

 water in their place, they are well known to be incapable 

 of spawning. They require, in fact, to leave their still 

 abodes and enter the sluices or currents in order to 

 accomplish this process. It is thus, also, I maintain, 

 with salmon and sea-trout. They are quite as incapable 



