GROWTH OF THE SALMON EMBRYO

Abstract
Wet and dry weights of Atlantic salmon are given up to the end of yolk sac absorption, and from them the growth rates are determined. Attempts are made to smooth the growth curve by the methods of Brody, Murray-Schmalhausen, and MacDowell et al. Of these the last is best taking zero time as nine days after fertilization. It is concluded that, as to weight, the interval considered ends before the point of inflection of a Sachs growth cycle. Growth in length, however, represents a complete cycle, hence there can be no simple quantitative relation between length and weight. Deviations from the smoothly descending relative growth rate (RGR or Minot) curve are considered, with the conclusion that all such irregularities so far presented can be attributed to random errors (except possibly the posthatching rise in RGR of the trout at 12° reported by Wood). In general weighing is not sufficiently sensitive as a method, to permit a detailed description of the RGR.