AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF SMOLTING IN SALMONIDS

The two major developmental events during post-emergence life of salmo nids are maturation and smolting. Whereas maturation is obligatory for the continuation of the species, smolting is not: salmonids can matur e without smolting. Therefore, developmentally, smolting is subsidiary to maturation. Considered in the wider context of reproduction, smolt ing and its component processes can be understood as evidence of failu re to meet the necessary and sufficient conditions for maturation in f resh water.