13 



Mr. Andrew Young, a Scotchman, who devoted much 

 time to the study of salmon, gives the following description 

 of the spawning bed, and the manner in which the ova are 

 deposited and impregnated :* 



" The spawning bed, " says he, " which may be called a 

 continuation of nests, is never fashioned transversely or 

 across the water current, but straight against it. The way 

 the bed is formed has never before been accurately described. 

 Some have affirmed that the male fish is the sole architect ; 

 others that the female does all the work ; others again, that 

 the tail is the only delving implement employed, and others 

 write that the bed trenches are dug across the stream. A 

 salmon spawning bed is constructed thus : The fish having 

 paired, chosen their spot for bed-maldn^ and being ready to 

 lie in, they drop down stream a little and then rushing back 

 with velocity toward the spot selected, dart their heads 

 iato the gravel, burrowing with their snouts into it. This 

 burrowing action, assisted by the power of the fins, is per- 

 formed with great force, and the water's current aiding ; the 

 upper part or roof of the excavation is removed. The bur- 

 rowing process is continued untU a first nest is dug sufficient- 

 ly capacious for a first deposition of ova. Then the female 

 enters this first hollow link of the bed, and deposits therein 

 a portion of her ova. That done she retires down stream 

 and the male instantly takes her place, and pouring, by emis- 

 sion, a certain quantity of milt over the deposited ova, im- 

 pregnates them. After this the fish commence a second ex- 

 cavation immediately above the first, and in a straight line 

 with it. In making the excavations they relieve one another. 

 When one fish grows tired of its work, it drops down the 

 stream untU it is refreshed, and then with renovated powers 

 resumes its labors, relieving at the same time its partner. 

 The partner acts in the same spirit, and so their labor pro- 

 gresses by alternate exertion. The second bed completed, 



* See G. P. Marsh's report on the Artificial Propagation of Fish; 1857. 



