60 UNDER THE OPEN SKY 



were best adapted. I think now, however, 

 the theory which receives most acceptance 

 is that these fish belong primarily and an- 

 cestrally to the ocean. But the large num- 

 ber of predatory animals in the sea makes 

 of its waters, especially near to the shore 

 where the crowding is particularly heavy, 

 an unusually dangerous locality in which 

 to rear baby fishes, large numbers of which 

 would fall a prey to their ravenous enemies. 

 Accordingly the salmon in the western 

 waters and the shad and their companions 

 in the eastern rivers have learned the trick 

 of retiring to a safer region to lay their eggs 

 and to have their young come to maturity. 

 But whatever may be the origin of the 

 habit, the fact itself is a most interesting 

 one. 



THE HOME OF THE SHAD 



Where the shad live during the balance 

 of the year no one is yet quite sure. Too 

 few of them have been caught in the ocean 

 to make the fact clear. Quite possibly 

 they keep to the deep water just off the 



