SALMON. 169 



behind her are two others ; and in this order they proceed with 

 all the others following, without being turned aside by any 

 ordinary obstacle. This author says that the females go first, 

 and next to them the stoutest males; so that if the fishermen 

 begin by catching only small males, they conclude that the chief 

 body has already passed on. 



These fish give a preference to the middle current of rivers 

 where they are not deep, unless when the weather is cold 

 and boisterous; and a rapid river with a clean bottom is a 

 favourite resort. Fishermen notice that they do not at this 

 time swim deeper in the water than about six feet, and as 

 they go up an estuary it is with the flowing tide, which 

 carries them free from many obstructions; but if the current 

 turns before they have made a satisfactory progress they turn 

 backward with it, by which it may happen that they fall into 

 danger, more especially from fixed nets planted there to inter- 

 cept them, and within which they are left at the ebb tide to 

 be taken up at leisure. This turning back of the Salmon at 

 the ebbing of the tide is the more remarkable as when advanced 

 beyond it the downward current of fresh water has not the 

 same influence, nor even the violence of a cataract, against 

 the force of which they seem to delight in leaping with a 

 perseverance that is wonderful, and commonly with success. 

 In this progress upward, however, their energy is not without 

 intervals of rest, during which they continue in some deeper 

 pool for two or three days, as if to recruit strength for another 

 effort. The number of fish sometimes comprised in the host we 

 have described may be guessed from the quantity that has been 

 taken at a single haul of a net, and that even when the net 

 has been of the ordinary moveable sort. Dr. Bathurst says, 

 in his "Notes on Nets," that fourteen hundred and fifty-two 

 were thus caught; and this amount has been far exceeded in 

 some instances, when what we believe to be the more effectual 

 or destructive nets have been employed. We are thus told 

 that two thousand five hundred were secured at one time in 

 the River Thurso; and in the liibble, in the year 1750, three 

 thousand five hundred of good size were taken at one catch, 

 but it is not said in a single net, although it is probable 

 they formed only one assemblage 



We cannot vouch for the constant occurrence of such a 

 VOL. IV. . z 



