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Show 1870.] IN THE GROWTH OF SALMON. 33 Salmon. They weighed from 2 to 3 lbs. each ; their flesh was pale in colour. 2. The same acute naturalist has published a separate volume 'On the growth of Salmon in Freshwater' (1839), wherein six coloured illustrations of fish of the natural size, at various stages during the first two years of their growth, are given. The specimens figured show very well the progressive growth and change of dress with age. Yarrell remarks that there is a comparative deficiency of general growth in the older specimens. One of the largest measured 14 inches long and weighed 14 ounces. 3. Lloyd states that near Katenberg there is a salmon-fishery. " These salmon are bred in the lake, and, in consequence of cataracts, cannot have access to the sea." They are small in size and inferior in flavour. 4. I may as well here quote the opinion of another eminent Scandinavian pisciculturist, Prof. Rasch, of the Christiania University. Writing to an English friend *, among other matters he says, " The assertion of some of your countrymen that the Salmon cannot be acclimatized so as to become entirely a freshwater fish is quite at variance with the results of experiments we have made in Norway. Some years ago Hetting hatched out numbers of Salmon-ova, which he subsequently turned loose in the Tyri-fiord ; and during the last two years fish have been caught in that lake, resembling in every respect' Salmon proper.' It is impossible for them, as you know, to return thither, even should they succeed in reaching the sea. "As regards acclimatizing Salmon to fresh water, our enclosures at Greffsen*t* are too small. But if in larger pieces of water it be only possible to prevent their first migration to the sea after they have assumed the Smolt dress, they will readily accustom themselves to their freshwater home. And should the water be a very large lake, such as Ladoga, Werner, Peipus, and as rich in nourishing food, the freshwater Salmon will then attain about the same size as the Salmon of the sea." 5. Mr. George Anderson, of Glasgow, communicated the following authentic case to the 'Field' (see 23rd and 30th June, 1866)*];. This gentleman obtained in 1862 about thirty specimens of Salmon parr from the well-known Stormontfield Salmon-ponds §. The fish, as he observes, were then two years old, but had not put on the Smolt dress preparatory to migration. Twenty-nine of the Parr were placed in a freshwater pond well supplied with Minnows and other food. In June 1866 the pond * Who, under the initials " N. E. B.," has published the letters in ' Land and Water,' vol. i. pp. 221-245 (March 31st and April 7th, 1866). •j- A n establishment close to Christiania. J I a m indebted to Mr. Charles Darwin for calling m y attention to this interesting notice. § A pretty sure guarantee that the fish were the young of Salmo salar, as it is not at all likely that the trained eyes of Mr. Buist and other experts would be deceived in them-nor, indeed, that ova specially destined to stock the river Tay, and not, as in Huningue, exported, should be chosen from other than purebred Salmon. PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1870, No. III. |