Abstract
Three forms of the Dolly Varden, Salvelinus malma, land-locked form (Miyabe char), river-resident form and sea-run form, were examined with special reference to their growth and development.The growth rate of the Miyabe char was closely similar in early stages of growth to that of the river-resident form, but a remarkable difference of body size appeared from two years of age, when the former descended into the lake and grew rapidly thereafter.The Miyabe char attained maturity at a later and more advanced growth stage than the river-resident form.The most striking difference was that a remark-able inflection corresponding to the fork length of the smolt was recognized in the relative growth line of the sea-run form, but the Miyabe char and river-resident form did not show this inflection in the growth line.The Miyabe char, therefore, might have more neotenous body form and size in relation to its precocity than the anadromous one.The process of land-locking and the subsequent evolution of the Miyabe char might be similar to that of kokanee,
Oncorhynchus nerka, land-locked in lakes.
