NOTE. 187 



with the milt fully developed from June to January : could these 

 be salmon so young as not to have laid aside their embryonic 

 characters, and yet have a milt as fully developed as a fully grown 

 salmon ready to spawn ? And why the male only? Why not also 

 ihe female?" 



These are very important remarks and statements which the 

 doctor has here laid before the public, and are entitled to candid 

 consideration from all who are interested in this grand piscatory 

 experiment. We find the following information upon this interesting 

 subject in the Glasgow Herald, of April last : 



Mr. John Shaw, of Drumlanrig, has deposited in the Fruin, 

 which flows into Loch Lomond, a quantity of ova, calculated to 

 amount to between 8,000 and 10,000 eggs, each containing the 

 germ of a future salmon. The ova were carried from the Nith in 

 perforated zinc boxes, with gravel in which they had been deposited, 

 after being duly fecundated. On the 17th ult., the ova alluded to 

 were deposited in three lots, in as many gravel beds in the Fruin, 

 selected by Mr. Shaw as those most likely to afford shelter to the 

 brood during the hatching process. Should they escape the inci- 

 dents of furious floods or the ravages of ruthless denizens of the 

 streams, these units of roe will in early summer assume the appear- 

 ance of the perfect fish, although of the tiniest proportions imagi- 

 nable, thence rise into the parr, and again into the salmon smoult ; 

 when at the end of about two years from the period of their being 

 hatched in fresh water, the instinctive desire to visit the ocean 

 comes upon them. In the case of the salmon fry from the Fruin,, 

 tin's seaward trip will be rather a roundabout one ; for, in the first 

 instance, they must traverse part of Loch Lomond, then descend 

 the Leven to the Clyde, and thence reach the sea. It is presumed 

 that, following the laws of instinct, they will return from their salt 

 water sojourn to the parent loch and streamlet, sufficiently aug- 

 mented in bulk to gladden the heart of the angler or professional 

 fisherman." 



The following paragraph we extract from the Globe of the 26th 

 May. 1854 :- 



' TAT SALMON BREEDING PONDS. The Perth correspondent of 

 the Daily Mail says The young fry in these ponds have now got 

 entirely rid of the umbilical bag, and are very active and lively. 

 The greater part have left the breeding boxes and taken to the 

 pond, and it is extremely difficult to retain them even there, as 

 they seek out at the sluice, evidently bent on reaching the river, 

 which we have no doubt is the best place for them, as they are now 

 perfectly able to protect themselves under the stones in the bed of 

 the river. As yet no food has been given to them. Up to this 

 date the experiment has been eminently successful.'' 



