56 FISH-CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
from compulsion—perhaps from some natural weakness of in- 
stinct—and she may have developed eggs without going to salt- 
water, and her descendants may have inherited the tendency to 
remain in fresh water. That is, of course, mere speculation, 
without any observation to base it upon, excepting the absence 
of obstructions at the present time. That the lack of instinct to 
migrate seawards is hereditary, is unquestionably true. The 
salmon have an opportunity to go to sea, and do sometimes run 
down as far as the mouths of weirs, but apparently not with the 
intention of going to sea. As to the hybridization suggested, I 
have never seen any evidence of its occurrence naturally among 
the salmon or any other species of fish. I have had no experi- 
ence in the matter of artificially breeding hybrids, but the gen- 
eral testimony from those who have attempted to raise them, is 
that they grow well and probably make good fish. 
The PReEsIDENT: Isa great depth of water necessary to the 
welfare of the fish? I ask this because I have noticed that on 
Long Island in some small ponds they never came to anything. 
Mr. Atkins: I think that probably the depth of water is the 
most important point to be considered. They will not thrive if 
compelled to sustain a high temperature of water. They must 
in the heated season be allowed to go into deep water where they 
can keep cool. 
Prof. Goopre: Mr. Atkins, have you ever seen any indications 
of hybridization under natural conditions between sea salmon 
and land-locked salmon? 
Mr. Arxins: I never had an opportunity to observe anything 
of that kind. I have taken only four or five anadromous salmon 
in company with land-locked salmon. In Grand lake stream we 
have on several occasions taken sea salmon that ascended to the 
lake, and came to the same ground as the land-locked salmon 
for the purpose of spawning. Two of the above four or five 
were mated—male and female, and the others we took and made 
use of without waiting to see what the action of the fish would 
have been if left alone. 
