Abstract
The author discusses the production of a secondary soliton when the wave equation describing the soliton undergoes a small perturbation. Discussion is limited to the Korteweg-deVries equation, where it is found that, for an appropriate sign of the perturbation, soliton production always occurs. The methods of inverse scattering are used where this production can be clearly demonstrated. Previous authors have ignored the production of secondary solitons and consequently have arrived at erroneous conclusions regarding the conservation laws. Two examples of perturbations are discussed in some detail.