SOME PROBLEMS OF SALMON.
['re THE EDITOR Or THE "SesoraTor."
SIR,—Mr. J. Oswald Head, in his letter in your issue of March 25th, on " Some. Problems of Salmon," opens'up a-field of conjecture which at present seems-impossible of solution. It has been Droved that, in practically every case, salmon return to spawn in the stream in which they were bred ; in spite of obstacles to their progress or of more attractive streams close at band inviting their entrance. One solution of the difficulty, which, however, is not entirely satisfactory, is the innate "homing instinct " whieh all wild creatures possess- in a more or less marked degree. That the particular fish' of which he speaks "wriggled itself over the sand and shingle" is hardly likely, the probability being that at the time when the fish ascended the burn it was in.flood, and there was thus enough water for it to effect an easy entrance.
"Fishing Owner," in his letter, raises another interesting point that has yet to be solved. The theory that the" sea- louse " causes the salmon to enter the river nine or ten months before the spawning season will not bear investigation, as, during the whole season, all fish fresh from the sea are affected with these -parasites. The more likely theory is that these " winter" or "spring" fish have, by better feeding than the rest of their kind, stored up a sufficient reserve of fat in their bodies to sustain them and to support the growth of the reproductive organs during their long fast in the river.
There seems to be a slight inaccuracy in his letter, as he states that the "tun of fish in the Killarney district is from December to July," and further on states that fish run up the Maine, which enters the same estuary, as early as September. The fish which enter the Maine in September must surely be autumn fish, which will spawn in the same year, as there does not seem to be any known instance of winter fish entering a river before December.—I am, Sir, &c., IASGA.IR.
Previous page
