Flow to obtain it. 295 
of their existence. That this applies to the “parrs” in some at 
least of our waters is beyond doubt. There is a good deal of 
rather confusing evidence forthcoming on the subject, but I have 
found from experience that some reach the smolt stage the first 
season, that is as yearlings ; some the second, or as two-year-olds ; 
and a few not till the third season, or as three-year-olds. The 
same occurs amongst trout and char. From the time they enter 
the sea until they reappear in our rivers, nothing very definite seems 
to be known of their habits. This part of the life history of the 
salmon should by all means be worked out. From the time he 
enters a river to the time he returns, either to the sea or to 
‘The dust from whence he sprung,” 
we do know something, but we ought to know a good deal more. 
We know too well that violent fungus epidemics occur in our 
rivers, and we know also that the greatest destruction of salmon 
by this means has been followed by great plenty. This is not 
suggestive of the salmon being a “total abstainer,” as so many 
of his friends would make him out tobe. There is no doubt that 
old kelts destroy a great many young fish, and when these old 
kelts are removed the result is benefit to the river. The supply 
in the rivers of Alaska keeps up, notwithstanding the great des- 
truction of adult salmon. One fact is worth noting. The fungus 
attacks them after spawning. They succeed, then, in performing 
the duty that impels them to thread their way hundreds of miles 
up rivers full of difficulties and dangers. 
In this country, although there are exceptions, possibly owing 
partly to climatic variations, and to the effects of hill drainage, 
etc., yet I have found that as a rule the salmon succeed in 
depositing their ova before they die. I venture the assertion that 
there is a very great probability that if all the large salmon in a 
river deposited their eggs and then died, that it might be the best 
thing for that river that ever happened to it. I do not say that it 
would be so, but that no great harm would accrue seems to be 
certain. The. salmon of Kamschatka have had their numbers 
decimated, and yet they have continued their race, and the same 
applies to those of Alaska. 
- These facts in the life history of the salmon are instructive. 
