138 ABSTRACT OF EVIDENCE 



are sent out of the country they are much dearer ; 

 spawn in gravel beds ; roe and melt appear at all 

 times ; they enlarge until we give over taking 

 them ; get large bellied in August, September, and 

 October ; enter the rivers to spawn in August and 

 September, and continue to the end of the year ; 

 they would go back to the sea if they were not 

 killed ; all killed in the early part of the year ; 

 come into the rivers to rid themselves of the louse, 

 which the fresh waters do ; soon fall off in condi- 

 tion after being in the fresh water ; must go to the 

 salt water to rid themselves of the maggot, and to 

 the fresh water to get off the louse ; make a furrow 

 in the gravel in the current twelve feet by eight or 

 ten ; male and female threw themselves on their 

 side and WORKED ONE AGAINST THE OTHER ; conti- 

 nued thus many days ; if frightened would go away 

 and icturn again ; takes many days before the 

 spawning is completed ; known them forsake their 

 spawning beds ; the bed or furrow is covered as 



NOTES. 



stration at once: what need is there of further evidence? 

 I think this gentleman's account of the act of impregnation 

 more satisfactory and more probable than any of the others. 

 Instead of the male fish impregnating the ova after exclu- 

 sion, the two fish, by rubbing their bodies together in 

 close contact, complete it by a simultaneous and mu- 

 tual operation. He also confirms my idea that the spawn- 

 ing time is the work of many days ; and that they will 

 forsake their beds or nests if disturbed. He does not 

 think the whitings, or salmon peal, or the gilse, are sal- 



