88 : The American Naturalist. [January, 
PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES, 
Biological Society of Washington, D. C.—November 29, 
1890.—Dr. T. H. Bean read a paper upon ‘‘ The Death of Salmon 
after Spawning.’ He called attention to the fact that the species of 
salmon upon the northwest coast belongs to a different genus from the 
salmon on the Atlantic coast, and one of the distinguishing features of 
the former was the dying of the fish after spawning. In the smallest 
species, known as the ‘little humpback,”’ the mortality is excessive, 
for every individual seems to die after spawning. It isa very abundant 
and widely spread species. It ascends the smaller streams and de- 
posits its spawn, often a rod or less, or even within ten feet, of salt 
water, and yet it does not live to reach it again. The reason for this - 
is unknown, but the fact is of great practical importance, for if the 
species spawns but once in its lifetime, if it is not to become extinct 
the mouths of the streams must be kept free from obstructions. This 
is not the case, so that if the fish cannot spawn naturally, it remains : 
only for the Fish Commission to take the matter in charge, and rear 
the fish artificially. - 
In the largest species on the coast, when the individuals ascend the é 
streams only about 75 miles, some return to the ocean ; but when, as 18 oe 
sometimes the case, they penetrate 500, 1,000, and even 1,500 miles in- 
land, the evidence all goes to show that none ever return to the ocean — 
the fish entered fresh water, and suggested it might be this structaral 
ality. 2 
