90 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SALMON. 



/ small and distant tributaries might be left with- 

 \ out a mate, if there were no parrs, male parrs 

 \ having been proved to be in a breeding state 

 ) at that time. 



The question of salmon spawning in the sea 

 has also been settled no salmon will spawn 

 in the sea, if it can help it as salt water 

 destroys the ova. The experiment has demon- 

 strated the practicability of rearing salmon arti- 

 ficially, fit for the market, within twenty_jnonths 

 from the deposition of the ova and the great 

 value of artificial production as it is ascer- 

 tained that not above ten per cent, of the ova 

 deposited in the boxes is lost, and not above 

 twenty per cent, additional, but arrives at the 

 smoult state and is sent into the river (the 

 keeper's report is much under this) whereas it is 

 generally supposed that not above 1 in 1000* 

 of those naturally deposited in the river ever 

 arrive at the smoult state being the prey of 

 fowl, fish, insects, and many other -enemies. It 

 has been also noticed that not a few of the ova 

 deposited in the natural way miss the fecundat- 

 ing milt, and are lost; and when we take into 



* Mr Ashworth and Mr Ffennell, as previously shown, estimate 1 in 

 6000. 



