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Show 1870.] IN THE GROWTH OF SALMON. 41 in separate compartments the artificially impregnated ova of:-1, Parr and Salmon ; 2, Grilse and Salmon; 3, Grilse pure; 4, Salmon pure. It was found, when the young of these different matches came to be examined early (in April 1859), that the size of each kind varied a little, Mr. Buist*, Superintendent of Fisheries, informing us that:-1st, the produce of Salmon with Salmon are 4 in. in length ; 2nd, Grilse with Salmon 3| in.; 3rd, Grilse with Grilse 3| in.; 4th, Parr with Grilse 3 in.; 5th, Smolt from large pond 5 in." Unfortunately these experiments do not apply to the instance in point, hybridity; but they show that intercrossing between the, so to speak, imperfect form though sexually developed fish and the mature individual gives rise to diminished offspring; whereas two mature specimens produce young which, at least in their earlier stage, are of larger growth. The result, though seemingly disparaging to what Mr. Bartlett has stated of mammals and birds, is in reality not against it; for his remarks have reference to the adult hybrid and not to the juvenile condition. ADDENDA. Whilst I have freely used data tendered by friends, it is right for me frankly to state they do not concur in the sum total of m y deductions ; for these therefore I am alone responsible. It gives me pleasure, though, to make known some of their views, as evincing both concord and disagreement with those held by myself. The following is a report of a statement by Mr. Buckland, which I immediately wrote out and obtained full liberty to publish. " Salmon-ova are generally deposited from the middle of December until the middle of January. " Young fish of the first year may be observed in the spawning-streams about May. In July and August they are as big as Minnows. The mothers risk their own lives for the safety of their progeny ; they make every effort to get to places where food is abundant for their young. Some of those hatched, say, at Christmas put on the Smolt coat in the following spring; but the great majority of these young fish do not go to the sea till the spring of what may be considered their second year. They have then attained the dimensions of a Sprat. " If a shoal of Smolts be examined whilst they are passing down, some will be seen to be only of the size of Minnows, whereas others will be quite as large as Sprats ; the little ones are those of the first year's brood, the big ones of the second year's series. " Some Smolts remain to the third year; but these differ very much from their brethren, their residence in the fresh water giving them quite a Trout-like appearance. These latter are found as long as 5 or 6 inches, and are called •* Heppers' in the west of England. They are beautiful fish, with well-developed Parr-markings, and much more common in the west of England than in the north of England. It is possible that these ' Heppers ' remain in the upper * A writer in the ' Illustrated London News,' April 19, 1862. |