1 62 Salmon at the Antipodes. 



fish is then called a " smolfc." It will then en- 

 deavour to leap over any obstacle that may be 

 in the way, in its efforts to get off to the 

 sea, and will even leap ont on dry land and 

 perish, in its instinctive desire to reach the 

 ocean. 



The smolts begin their journey at about 

 12 months old, or a little over that time ; 

 but here a singular fact has been discovered. 

 Only one-half of the salmon parrs assume the 

 smolt dress, and migrate to the sea in the first 

 season, the remaining half staying another 

 year in the fresh water, and going down to 

 the sea at about the same time of the succeed- 

 ing year. It has been found that the early 

 migrating fish include pretty equal numbers of 

 both sexes. The female parrs have never been 

 found in fresh water with fully developed roe, 

 but the male parr is sexually matured, and it 

 is no unusual thing to see a male parr of six 

 inches in length waiting to impregnate the 

 ova which are being deposited by a salmon of 

 15 or 20 lbs. in weight. 



In England, the salmon smolts commence 

 their descent early in May, about which time 

 the young salmon of that year are bursting 



