202 Fisninc uv AMERICAN WATERS. 
Tue Satmonx.—Salno salar. 
CHAPTER V. 
THE SALMON. 
Tuts is the head of a numerous species, or rather of many 
families. The body is covered with fine scales; the fins are 
all soft-rayed except the second dorsal, which is composed of 
a soft adipose film. It has an air-bladder which extends the 
whole length of the abdomen. 
The genus Salo contains those species, such as the salmon 
and trout, in which the upper jaw is formed by the superior 
maxillary bones—the intermaxillaries being small—situated 
between the maxillaries. Usually these bones descend into 
the front of the superior maxillaries, and form the upper 
boundary of the mouth. The maxillaries, palatines, vomer, 
and even the tongue, are furnished with teeth. The bran- 
chiostegous, or gill rays, are about ten in number. 
Numerous species of this gens are found in the seas of the 
northern hemisphere, one of the largest of which is the com- 
mon salmon (Sedmo salar.—Lin.), a fish too well known, both 
as to flavor and appearance, to require particular description. 
Cuvier states that it is found in all the arctic seas, whence it 
enters the rivers in the spring, 
The Salmo salar, which the inhabitants of the British Isles 
appropriately distinguish as both “noble” and “royal,” be- 
cause it is the fish which affords them their highest degree 
of sport in angling, according to their estimate of the value 
of field-sports, has been differently esteemed for its esculent 
qualities at several periods in modern history, though at no 
