Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/317

Rh "Facts established.—In the investigation of some of these questions, most excellent work has already been done, not only in Holland and Germany upon the Salmon in the Rhine by Dr. Hoek and Professor Miescher Ruesch, but also by Mr. Archer, the Inspector of Salmon Fisheries for Scotland, in conjunction with Mr. Grey and Mr. Tosh. The careful series of observations embodied in the annual reports are well worth careful study by the zoologist and the Salmon fisher. They should help to dispel the absurd traditions which cling around the history of the Salmon, and to pave the way for the complete solution of many of the problems we have enumerated. The present investigation is a continuation and amplification of these researches, and would have been impossible without these previous laborious studies. Briefly stated, these investigations of the Fishery Board have established the following facts:—That some Salmon spawn every year, though there is strong evidence that all do not do so. That the genitalia of fish coming from the sea develop steadily from April on to the spawning time, and that the genitalia of Salmon in the earlier summer months develop more rapidly than those of Grilse. That the proportion of the weight of the fish is constant for all sizes of Salmon. That Salmon continue to feed while in the sea until September. This is shown, firstly, by the presence of food in the stomach of a certain proportion of the fish captured, and, secondly, by the fact that the fish leaving the sea are somewhat heavier—from 2 to 3 per cent.—in August and September than they are in the earlier months, whereas if they had entirely stopped feeding they should have been lighter. If Salmon do feed in the sea, it is perhaps curious that food should be found in so small a percentage of those captured at the mouths of rivers. But it must be remembered that the estuary of the river is not the natural feeding-ground of the Salmon, and it is probably only by chance that food is still in the stomach of fish captured there."

in his latest report on the trade of Bordeaux to the Foreign Office, makes some striking observations as to the folly of the destruction of birds. He points out that the appearance of the Cochylis, a most destructive insect, is contemporary with the destruction of small birds in the vineyards. No sooner does the 'chasse' open than every man and boy is seen with a gun, stalking and 'potting' every small bird he can get near enough to. The consequence is that there is literally no bird life among the vines, and consequently insect life now reigns supreme. On one property alone, from July 20th to Sept. 10th, 5000 days' labour of women and children was alone employed in looking for and destroying the eggs and larvae of this insect. 'But if only birds were allowed free action they would,' the Consul says, 'assuredly, gladly accomplish this