PAIRING OF SALMON. 59 



argument. We will then allow a pea for every se- 

 cond : this must be rapid work ; but at this rate 

 she will be in close occupation, without appro- 

 priating a moment to any other purpose, six days, 

 twenty-two hours and forty seconds. Now it is 

 impossible for anyone to imagine, that the fish can 

 maintain a stationary position, even for above seven 

 days ; but rather that she must have intervals of 

 rest, and must make many pits to deposit her pea 

 in. Then it is reasonable to suppose, if this be the 

 case, which is highly probable, that the male per- 

 forms his office after exclusion ; and that the fish, 

 like the fly, does not place more eggs in one situ- 

 ation than can be fecundated by the male, and se- 

 cured by them both. Even if she is confined only 

 twenty-four hours in one place, and that in shallow 

 water, where she is the whole time visible, only let 

 it be considered how much she must be exposed to 

 the eagle eye of the 'practised spearer, who feels 

 as little mercy as the steel with which this valuable 

 creature is transfixed. They never let the fish rest, 

 morning, noon, or night ; gangs of them are per- 

 petually in motion, on each side of a river; if a 

 fish is once seen, or started, certain death awaits 

 him. He is hunted from pool to pool, from side to 

 side, until, wearied out, he deems himself safe if he 

 can hide his head, and he is dead in a moment. 

 How important a circumstance it is, that the fish 

 should not be disturbed whilst laying her eggs, is 

 obvious, for if such eggs are not well covered up 



