of the Salmon in Fresh Water. 



59 



Moulds were therefore much more common in the fish caught in tidal 

 waters, and in the earlier part of the year, than in those from the upper 

 reaches or captured in autumn. The number found in the oesophagus 

 and stomach were much in excess of those grown from the intestinal 

 contents. 



(d) Micro-Organisms in Two Series of Fish. 



An interesting series of cultivations was obtained from a group of 

 fish sent in on the 5th of November 1896, from the mouth of the Spey. 

 Their numbers are 76, 77, and 78 : 



No. 76 - 



No 78 - 



(Esophagus. 



300 non-liquefying 

 spreading colonies. 



d. 



Gelatine rapidly 

 liquefied with a 

 white deposit. 



h. 



As in No. 77. 



Stomach. 



Intestine. 



Innumerable small : Gelatine rapidly 



colonies, a pure j liquefied. White 



growth. Non- ; deposit, 

 liquefying. 



e. 

 No growths. 



As in oesophagus. 



As in (esophagi 



Innumerable, no 

 liquefying growths. 

 Pure cultivation. 



The organisms in c, d, /, h, and i were identical. They liquefied 

 gelatine, forming a pure white precipitate, and consisted of small motile 

 bacilli, some of them joined together in chains. 



The growths in b and j were also identical. Innumerable small pin- 

 head colonies, not liquefying the gelatine, and showing no variations 

 when grown in second dilutions. The organisms were very short, small, 

 plump bacteria, almost like cocci, immotile, and all of the same size. 



No growth appeared in e. 



The organism present in a was a short, broad bacterium, in many 

 instances gathered into zoogloefe, in others prolonged into long jointed 

 filaments. It was non-motile and did not liquefy gelatine. 



In these three fish caught at the same place and on the same date 

 surprising variations in the number and nature of the organisms occur. 

 No rule seems to guide either the number or the forms present, either 

 when one fish is contrasted with another, or when succeeding sections 

 of the alimentary canal are compared. 



Another interesting group of fish was sent in on October 27, 1896. 

 No. 69, from the upper Helmsdale ; No. 70, from the upper Dee ; and 

 No. 71, from the mouth of the Dee : 



[TABLE. 



