556 ^R SHAW'S EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE 



That the pedigree of the young fish may not be called in question, I have 

 preserved the skins of the parents. The weight of the male when taken was 

 16 lb., and of the female 8 lb. 



The spa\vn was impregnated and deposited in the stream immediately below 

 the fall, pond No. 1 . E, on the 27th of January 1837 ; the temperature of the water 

 in the stream being 40°, and that of the water in the river 36°. On the 21st of 

 March (fifty-four days after impregnation), the embryo fish were visible to the 

 naked eye. On the 7th May (101 days after impregnation), they had burst the 

 envelope, and were to be found amongst the shingle of the stream. Tlie tempe- 

 rature of the water was at this time 43°, and of the atmosphere 45°. It is this 

 brood which I have now had an opportunity of watching continuously for a length 

 of time, that is, for more than the entire period which was required to elapse from 

 their exclusion from the egg, until their assumption of those characters which dis- 

 tinguish the undoubted salmon-fry. I therefore desire, even at the risk of repeti- 

 tion, to describe their progi-essive growth during these important and usually 

 misconceived stages of existence.* But before doing so, I beg to be indulged in 

 a few miscellaneous remarks. 



It is indeed in no way surprising that any body of scientific men, before 

 whom a portion of these observations on the growth of the sahnon in fresh water 

 may have been previously laid, should have been slow to express a decided opinion 

 on the subject, more especially when the result of m}^ experiments goes to prove 

 facts so opposed to what has been the received opinion both of scientific and prac- 

 tical observers, ever since the natural history of the salmon became a subject of 

 inquiry. I have no wish to attempt removing these opinions by the substitution 

 of others which may be equally destitute of a correct foundation, but by the 

 statement of facts resulting from the most careful and repeatedly verified expe- 

 riments — experiments which, 1 believe, have been made by no other individual 

 on the same principle for a similar pm-pose ; for had they been so, I am per- 

 suaded the real history and economy of this valuable and interesting fish would 

 long ere now have been more correctly understood by the community. However, 

 should similar observations have been made, the results of which tend to support 

 any material facts contradictory of those here stated, it would be most desirable 

 that the scientific public should be immediately apprised of them. 



It has been asserted, with some appearance of truth, in support of the old 

 school theory, that owing to the comparatively hmited range of my experimental 

 ponds, the young salmon reared in them have not had a " supply of food suffi- 

 ciently varied, or in sufficient quantity, to insure an equally rapid growth to 

 those in the open river." This objection, I must repeat, is by no means tenable, 



* I have transmitted a series of the specimens referred to, from the ovum to the smolt, and in- 

 cluding the ordinary and transitionary state of the parr, to be exhibited when my paper is read. 



