THE CALIFORNIAN SALMON. 
109 
is well known that the size of trout depends on the amount 
and quality of their food, and the extent of the feeding- 
ground available. 
It is stated by Ghinther that the Salmo fario , when it 
inhabits a small mountain pool,* with scanty food, never 
reaches a greater weight than eight ounces ; while, in a 
large lake or river, where food is abundant, it attains to a 
weight of fourteen or sixteen pounds. It has been found 
by dissection that these overgrown fish are usually barren, 
and hence such large specimens, from their well-known 
ferocity towards the young of their own species, are very 
objectionable amongst breeding fish. 
The salmonoids that have been introduced to Australian 
waters, including those of Tasmania are the Salmo solar, 
Salmo trutta , Salmo fario , Salmo eriox , and the Salmo 
quinnat. 
The Salmo salar has larger scales than any of the other 
salmonoids, and the number of rows above and below the 
lateral line is a means of identifymg this fish. Its form is 
the most elegant and symmetrical of any of the genus ; 
and its speed and power in the water, whether for swim- 
ming or leaping up waterfalls, on its toilsome ascent to the 
spawning beds, is most remarkable. It attains to a length 
of four or five feet. It has a single longitudinal row of 
teeth on the vomer, or bony plate in the roof of the mouth, 
which are gradually lost, except three or four, commencing 
from behind and coming towards the front of the mouth, 
at an early age. The dorsal fin has fourteen rays, the 
anal eleven, the pectoral fourteen ; the vertebrae number 
fifty-nine to sixty; the pyloric appendages are fifty-three to 
seventy-seven. The parr has eleven transverse bars. 
There are eleven or twelve rows of scales transversely from 
behind the adipose fin, or rayless back fin near the tail, 
forward to the lateral line. The young of the first and 
