53 



ON THE PAIRING OF SALMON. 



Those who do not feel a particular interest in 

 pursuits of this sort, may, perhaps, think that this 

 is carrying the subject more into detail, than ne- 

 cessity requires ; but others, who are as partial to 

 it as I am, will agree that " even the very dregs 

 are sweet." I should not, however, advance a 

 word more on this topic, if it did not give me an 

 opportunity of applying a few additional observa- 

 tions to the general question. It is material to 

 know, whether salmon pair or are polygamous; 

 inasmuch as, if they do pair, a very pernicious 

 habit is practised, in allowing only an unseasonable 

 female, or one very big with roe, to escape, and 

 reserving the male for destruction, because the one 

 cannot produce a progeny without the assistance 

 of the other. I have seen this practised many 

 times at the Totness fish-lock ; that is, I have seen 

 the female taken out and put into the fresh water 

 above, and I have seen the kipper knocked on the 

 head ; if they pair, this is a most ruinous practice, 

 and therefore it is very material to ascertain, if we 

 are able, whether they do pair or do not. 



No fact is mentioned by any naturalist — no 

 experiment has ever been tried — - no series of 



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