522 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



crease in weight abont three-quarters of a pound a year, as those he had when we saw them, last 

 January, we judged to have weighed about one and a quarter pounds, being then about eighteen 

 months old.' These are the only records of observations of the growth of the White-fish, and 

 evidences of tliis character are the only ones of any value of the rate of growth. 



"An attempt was made several times from large lifts of fish lying in the fish shanties to arrange 

 the different sizes of White-fish in series, with the hope that some evidence of the rate of growth 

 per year would result. It was always found that the row of fishes, from the larger to the smaller, 

 assumed the form of a spire-like pyramid, and a 'straight-edge' laid at their heads would have 

 touched the uoses of every one in the series, and on the opposite end it would have touched every 

 tail, so perfectly regular was the gradation. It was difficult to believe that the White-fishes, of 

 from nearly five inches to six or seven, had attained these dimensions in three mouths from the 

 little half-inch embryos of April and May, though none of less size were found with the most 

 diligent search. 



"Mr. Wilmot's young fish measured about five inches in September when four months old. 

 Experience has proved that there is a more rapid growth of the young Trout and Salmon afterward 

 than during the first two months. The observation on the development of the young White-fish 

 from April to the first week of May showed the slightest perceptible difference of length and bulk. 

 If we assume them to be the fish of this season, then they had increased ten times in length in two 

 months, precluding the possibility of a more rapid growth afterward. 



" It is altogether probable that the fish measuring from four to seven inches in July were those 

 of the previous season's hatching, and about sixteen months old. It is equally probable that the 

 Point Edward fish of seven inches are those of the same season, as the five months intervening the 

 1st of July and the 3d of December should have produced considerable growth. To confirm this 

 opinion we have Mr. Wilmot's statement that his White-fish had attained the length of seven 

 inches in December. These evidences of the rate of growth are the only conclusions we have been 

 enabled to adopt with reference to the size attained at different ages. Nor does this decide the 

 average size of the growth of the White-fishes the first and second seasons." 



The act of spawning, with the accompanying movements, is thus detailed by Mr. Peter Kiel, 

 of Wolfe Bay : 



"From thirty years' experience as a fisherman, and after obtaining all the information pos- 

 sible from others on the habits of White-fish, I beg leave to remark that during the month of 

 November the White-fish are known to unite, or join in pairs, male and female, and that they 

 approach the shore for the purpose of spawning. Should the weather be very cold they move 

 more rapidly and arrive at their destination about the 15th. Their favorite place is a sheltered or 

 land-locked bay or inlet having a sandy or gravelly bottom. When in from ten to twenty feet of 

 water the female, endowed with an instinctive knowledge that her time has come for depositing a 

 part of her spawn, selects a spot and commences to dig vigorously with her head, at the same time 

 moving the tail rapidly to stir the sand or gravel ; in a short time she forms a nest about two 

 inches deep; the male, staying close by, seems to be attentively watching her movements. When 

 the nest is satisfactorily arranged she ejects a quantity of spawn into it. The male immediately 

 darts alongside of her and impregnates it with the milt. He then moves off' a little way while she 

 covers it partly over with her nose and tail. They remain near the spot two or three days, until 

 all the eggs are deposited in the same nest, when they return to the deep in search of food, leaving 

 the eggs and young fish, when hatched out, to shift for themselves. In the mean tiiue the spawn, 

 being heavier than water, remains on the bottom, which it would do even if not partly covered 



