of the /Salmon in Fresh Water. 



149 



After further investigation (p. 148), he concludes that, after extrac- 

 ion with alcohol and ether, the heads of the spermatozoa contain 

 60-50 per cent, of Nucleic acid. 

 35*56 ,, Protamin. 



or 96-06 Neutral nucleate of protamin. 



Some observations on the composition of the unripe testes are also 

 given. Miescher devised an ingenious method of dissolving away the 

 cell protoplasm, and he was thus able to study the chemistry of the 

 nuclei from which the heads of the spermatozoa are developed. He 

 shows thnt these nuclei contain nucleic acid and a proteid, " nuclear 

 albuminose," but almost certainly no protamin It is considered 

 possible that the albuminose is the precursor of the protamin. From 

 his observations on the metabolism of the salmon, he concludes that the 

 necessary phosphorus is carried to the testes as lecithin and there stored 

 in the protoplasm, which becomes the tail of the spermatozoon. He 

 further points out that since both nucleic acid and protamin are richer 

 in nitrogen than proteids, a very great loss of these from the muscles 

 must be necessary to yield the nitrogen, while a considerable nitrogen- 

 free part must be liberated which will be available as a source of energy. 

 The essential nature of the phosphorus compounds in the testes are thus 

 very different from the compounds of the ovaries. 



To determine the distribution of phosphorus in these structures the 

 testes of 53 and 68 were analysed in the same manner as the ovaries. 



TABLE III. 



The percentage amount of jrftosphoi'tis in the testes is thus no larger than 

 that in the ovaries. The amount in the form of lecithin is markedly less, 

 that in inorganic plwsphates about the same, while the phosp/torus in the 

 nucleins is in someivhat larger amount. 



2. EXCHANGE OF PHOSPHORUS BETWEEN MUSCLE AND OVARIES. 

 The first question which it appeared desirable to investigate is : 



(a) Is the lecithin stored in the trunk muscles sufficient to yield the lecithin 

 trhich accumulates in the ovaries? 



Table IV. gives the per cent, of lecithin in ovaries and muscles in 

 four typical fish from the estuary from May to August ; and in three 

 typical fish from the upper waters in October and November. 



[TABLE. 



