THE SALMON 197 



the parents. The late Frank Buckland reckoned that a female 

 salmon produced about nine hundred eggs to every pound of 

 her gross weight ; thus a fish of 20 lb. should contain 

 18,000 ova. The period which intervenes between deposition 

 and hatching varies according to temperature. Mr. Armistead, 

 of the Solway Fishery, says that he has known the eggs to be 

 hatched in thirty days, but in very cold water this may be 

 deferred as long as 1 60 days. When first extruded, the ova 

 adhere to each other, but in the course of an hour or two they 

 separate, each becoming a round independent globe, of a bright 

 orange colour, the size of a small pea, and enclosed in an 

 elastic envelope. For a period of from twenty-four to forty- 

 eight hours after impregnation the ova may be freely handled, 

 and will bear transport ; but after that they become exceedingly 

 sensitive of disturbance. Mr. Armistead mentions an instance 

 in point which occurred in his hatchery. A tray of eggs 

 received a slight concussion nine days after impregnation ; the 

 result was that 2 5 per cent, were picked out dead within a few 

 days. With proper care and suitable appliances the percentage 

 of loss by death between impregnation and hatching ought not 

 to exceed 5 per cent. 



About halfway through the period of incubation two little 

 dark dots appear in each egg — the eyes of the embryo ; after 

 which the ova can be moved and handled with impunity, 

 always premising that they are not exposed to a higher 

 temperature than 45° Fahrenheit. Subject to this precaution, 

 " eyed ova " may be sent long distances by road or rail without 

 detriment. 



■Anxiety is often expressed by persons interested in salmon- 

 fisheries for the fate of spawn deposited in comparatively 

 shallow water during floods ; but this matter they may safely 

 leave to that mysterious form of sagacity which we describe as 

 instinct. In no part of the business of living is this secret 

 power more manifest among wild animals than in provision 

 for their young. Low as they stand in the scale of vertebrate 



