Interspecific hybridization of salmonid fish

Artificial hybridizations were carried out with 17 combinations using six species of Salmonidae, namely chinook and coho salmon, rainbow and brown trout, Atlantic salmon and brook trout. Success at the eyed stage, survival rates up to the 15th day after hatching, length of the incubation period and dispersion of hatching times were examined with reference to monospecific control lots.Success and survival rates of hybrids were found to be inferior or at the best similar to those of parental species. Significant maternal effects were observed within most types of crosses.Highly variable interaction factors were found to influence length of incubation of hybrids, which could exceed that of either parental species. The dispersion of hatching times was greater in hybrids than in pure species and tended to be negatively correlated to survival.A few types of hybrids showed promising results at the end of the experiment and their potential interest for aquaculture is discussed.