Is Local Behaviour in Salmon Heritable?

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Authors: White, H. C., Huntsman, A. G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1938
• Subjects: General Medicine; Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f38-001; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f38-001

Fry from Atlantic salmon taken in Chaleur bay, near the mouth of the Restigouche river, N.B., where the salmon enter early in the summer and mainly as two-sea-year and three-sea-year fish, were planted in 1932 in the East branch (without salmon) of the Apple river at the head of the bay of Fundy. In this region the local salmon enter only in the autumn and nearly all as one-sea-year fish (grilse). The Restigouche fish as parr grew more rapidly than the local fish, corresponding with the less crowded conditions in the East branch. The smolts were marked by removal of the adipose fin when descending to the sea in 1934. Their descent occurred from May 12 to June 20, being markedly accelerated by rainfall. Traps were placed on both branches in 1935, giving in the autumn 92 marked grilse entering the East branch and 6 the South. The traps in 1936 gave in the autumn, 5 marked two-sea-year salmon entering the East branch and 1 the South. No difference in appearance or behaviour was observable between these and the local salmon of the South branch.