474 Dr KNOX on the Natural History of 



to persuade the inhabitants of the banks of these rivers that sal- 

 mon ever spawn after the 15th January. The ova we now speak 

 of were deposited on the 2d November, and this was the exact 

 period during which the salmon were observed to be spawning 

 in these streams. From data with which we are acquainted, we 

 are assured that at least 150 salmon of different kinds had passed 

 up into the streams now spoken of. These streams may be thus 

 described : Two streams running from high mountain ground ; 

 unite with each other after a course of about five miles each, they 

 are small, but very constant streams, and even in the driest sea- 

 son, at the junction they measure about twenty feet broad, by 

 about ten or twelve inches in depth of stream : there are some 

 deep pools, (say ten feet) in the course of one of these rivulets. 

 The stream so formed by the junction of these two, is joined at 

 the distance of about three miles lower down by a third rivulet. 

 The united stream, even in the driest season, will then measure 

 upwards of sixty feet in breadth, with a depth of about sixteen 

 or eighteen inches. From this point the river runs through an 

 open country for the distance of about three miles farther, where 

 it is joined by a stream nearly equal to itself in strength ; but 

 our observations during the spring were limited altogether to the 

 river above the junction with this latter river. 



The spawning bed made the subject of observation, was placed 

 at the foot of a pretty long and placid pool, and just at the top 

 of a stream where the water first begins to feel the effects of the 

 approaching descent. The water was here about fifteen feet 

 broad, with a depth of about six inches. The breadth of the 

 bed seemed to be about eight feet, its length might be three or 

 four feet, the whole having rather an oval form. The bed was 

 easily marked out by the eye in consequence of the gravel having 

 the appearance of washed gravel ; and this arises from the whole 

 mass having been turned over by the salmon during the process 

 of depositing the ova. The small stones on the surface of the 



