THIRTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 55 
it has been since the land-locking took place; or, rather, when 
the oldest and most recent land-lockings occurred? I would 
also ask whether, in your opinion, the land-locking has produced 
an hereditary tendency in the fish to remain in the head waters of 
streams, so that if obstructions are removed, fish descended from 
land-locked fish will also be likely to remain in the head waters. 
I would also ask in the special interest of the fish-culturists of 
England, who at the present time are doing a great deal of work 
in the way of hybridizing various species and races of salmon- 
ida, etc., whether our land-locked salmon could not be trans- 
ported to England and crossed with the large brook trout or the 
char? It would bea great advantage, for they would thus se- 
cure a heavier and better fish than the trout which they now 
have; and, moreover, a fish which would be likely to remain in 
the head waters of the streams. Such is the theory of certain 
English experts, but it occurs to me that their theory is without 
very good foundation. If Mr. Atkins can throw any light on 
any of these questions, we shall all, I think, be greatly inter- 
ested. 
Mr. Atkins: I donot think we have any evidence that the 
land-locking of the species under consideration has occurred 
during recent geological periods. There is nothing at present 
to prevent any of these salmon from going out to sea from any 
of those waters where they are now found. There are obstruc- 
tions to their coming back, if they once went to the sea, and 
these same obstructions would hinder the sea salmon having ac- 
cess to the upper waters where the land-locked salmon now live. 
It is possible that at some very remote period there were obsta- 
cles which prevented their descending to the sea. I think it 
possible, also, that the change in their habits and instincts oc- 
curred gradually. The male salmon will live in fresh water 
until their reproductive organs are developed, which occurs at 
an early stage of their existence. I do not know that it has 
been proved (excepting in the case of some other species than 
Salmo salar) that salmon can be kept from making migrations to 
the sea until the eggs of the female become pretty well devel- 
oped; but I think it possible that such proof may be furnished. 
One salmon may have stayed over the proper time—perhaps 
