THE SALMON FAMILY 179 



Genus SALMO 



It is discouraging to have to confess that there is no 

 genus of fish about which there is so much conflict of 

 opinion among ichthyologists as there is about that of Salmo. 

 Yet, as befits the most important of our fresh-water fishes, 

 it has received more attention than any other, both from 

 men of science and from the Legislature. The sturgeon 

 excepted, the largest, and without exception the choicest 

 and most valuable, denizens of our lakes and rivers are 

 of the salmon kind ; they are at no pains to elude 

 observation ; the migratory species, passing up our moderately- 

 sized rivers, penetrate some of the most populous districts, 

 and perform the functions of reproduction in water often 

 so shallow as not to cover their backs. The non-migratory 

 species lend themselves readily to semi-domestication and to 

 artificial reproduction ; yet with all these opportunities of 

 observation men have been unable to arrive at agreement 

 upon some of the most obvious points for enquiry. 



The classification of the whole genus is peculiarly 

 perplexing owing to the striking changes in appearance 

 affecting the various species at successive stages of growth 

 and at different seasons of the year ; and also, probably, 

 to the production of fertile hybrids between the different 

 species. Dr. GOnther has arranged the genus Salmo into 

 two groups — Salmones, or true salmon, distinguished by teeth 

 extending over the whole length of the vomer, and Sahelini, 

 or char, which carry teeth only on the front of the vomer — 

 and thereby he has provided a convenient and intelhgible aid 

 to the study of the genus. And I desire not to be misunder- 

 stood if, in the present review of British fresh-water fishes, 

 I am unable to follow Dr. Giinther in his further definition 

 of the various species. Nobody will suspect me, either of 

 disrespect to the conclusions to which he has been brought 

 by faithful and laborious research, or of a desire to put my 



