THE SALMON. 161 



The excluded fry continues to be nourished for 

 some time by the remains of the yolk or vitelline 

 portion of the ovum, which adheres to the fish for 

 a considerable period, not being altogether absorbed 

 till the lapse of several weeks.* 



A principal point regarding the corresponding 

 fry which were hatched in the natural spawning 

 beds of the river, was, no doubt, to watch for their 

 alleged immediate or very speedy departure to the 

 sea, but nothing of the kind could be eventually 

 detected. Specimens taken from the pond on the 

 24th June (48 days old) measured only an inch, 

 on the 7th July (two months old) an inch and a 

 half, on the 7th September (four months old) 

 two inches and a half, and on the 7th November 

 (six months old) three inches and a quarter. Some 

 slight variation was observable in size between the 

 individuals in different ponds, but the whole had 

 precisely the aspect and character of small parr 

 (commonly so called), and did not differ from those 

 in the natural beds of the river, except that the 

 latter were of a darker colour, a difference to be 

 accounted for by the water being less pure and 

 translucent. -f- This agreement, of itself, went far 

 to prove that naturalists, and all other observers, 

 had erred in supposing that salmon fry (or smolts) 

 performed their journey to the sea a few weeks 



* The period of this absorption also seems to vary with the tempe- 

 rature and other circumstances, ranging from 27 to 50 days. 



\" Mr. Shaw has observed, in reply to objections regarding his con- 

 structed ponds, as possibly limiting the growth of his fry by affording 

 an insufficient supply of food, that these ponds actually abound with 

 all the ordinary insect food of young fishes. 



