GILPIN ON THE TROUT AND SALMON. 77 



In identifying S. Sal tr, (Lin.), S. Fontinalis , (Mitch.), S. Cana- 

 c/ensis, (Hum. Smith), .S'. Gloverii, (Girard), S. Confinis, (DeKay). 

 and atti'ibutiiig them to their rightful first describers, I have met 

 with much difficuhy. The principal writers seem to have had no 

 personal knowledge themselves of the fish in question, whilst the 

 best observers seem to have wanted what the first gentleman had, 

 a scientific tact and skill of observation. Thus Perley, followed by 

 Frank Forrester, has confounded S. Canadensis with S. Trutta of 

 Europe, and S. Gloverii and S. Conjinis, with S. Ferox, also 

 European. I need scarcely say how soon Yarrel, or " Couch's British 

 Fishes" would correct this error. In the present paper I have only 

 given facts that I have identified myself, or that have been told me by 

 local observers. The "\^'orks I have referred to are those of 

 Hichardson, Dekay, Storer, Gill, Norris, Frank Forrester, " Game 

 Fish of tie North,'' Perley, and manuscript correspondence of F.W. 

 Putnam, Esq., Salem, U. S. 



Salmo Salar — The Salmon. 



The description of a fresh run fish from the ocean, as they appear in 

 spring in our market, woukl he — weight from sis pounds up to twenty, 

 head small, body very deep, and at the same time round or thick through ; 

 back very muscular, and tail large and strongly based ; the opercle is circular 

 on its outside edge, in this a very marked conti-ast with the trout, in which it 

 is angular; the free edge of the labial is rounded, whilst the same part in the 

 trout is sharp ; the eye rather small and about two and a half diameters from 

 tip of nose ; the nostril double, like all the genus ; the outline of back rounds 

 up from the head, then runs in nearly a straight line to the first dorsal, which 

 has twelve rays, the first very thick and sliort, and of an irregular rhomboidal 

 shape ; the anterior edge of the second dorsal or adipose fin is opposite the 

 fifth ray of the anal, its posterior edge opposite the last ray ; the tail very 

 strong, rays twenty, the anal ten, first very thick, and ventral nine, the pectoral 

 fin rises close to the margin of opercle ; the colour fresh from the sea is black 

 along the back, running gradually into steel blue, with green reflections to the 

 line of raised scales, all below of the brightest silver ; the head and opercles 

 are, upper half dark blue, lower silvery ; the fins, dorsal pale lavender with 

 irregular spots, rays dark blue, adipose blue, caudal base and edges dark, 

 middle pale yellowish white, anal pale yellow ; ventral with large accessary fins 

 yellowish ; rays and anterior edge dark, pectoral pale bluish white, anterior 

 edge and rays dark blue ; on the pre-opercle and opercle are one or two black 

 irregular spots ; a number of black blotches occur at irregular intervals along 

 the sides and side of the belly. Teeth on intermaxillary, upper and lower 

 maxillary, palatine bones, in vomer, but not more than two or three, and on 

 tongue about nine or ten around the edges ; scales very large Fin rays — D. 

 12, V. 9, P. 11, A. 9, C. 20, a large axillary scale to V. Gill rays— 11 on 

 each side. Posterior edge of opercle round, free end of maxillary round. 

 10 



