Class IV. SALMON. 289 



taken on the 17th of March following, and then 

 was found to weigh 171b. and a half. 



All fifhermen agree, that they never find any food f ood 

 in the ftomach of this fifh. It is likely they may uncertain, 

 neglect their food entirely during the time of fpawn- 

 ing, as fea lions and fea bears are known to do 

 for months together during their breeding feafon : 

 and it may be obferved, that like thofe animals, 

 the falmons return to the fea lank and lean, and 

 come from the fait water in good condition. It is 

 evident that at times their food is both fifh and 

 worms, for the angler ufes both with good fuccefs ; 

 as well as a large, gaudy, artificial fly, which pro- 

 bably the fifh miftakes for a gay libellula or dragon 

 fly. 



The Capture in the Tweed, about the month of Capture* 

 July, is prodigious ; in a good fifhery, often a boat 

 load, and fometimes near two, are taken in a tide : 

 fome few years ago there were above feven hun- 

 dred fifh taken at one hawl, but from fifty to a 

 hundred is very frequent : the coopers in Berwick 

 then begin to fait both Salmon and Gilfes in pipes, 

 and other large vefTels, and afterwards barrel* 

 them to fend abroad, having then far more than 

 the London markets can take off their hands. 



Mod of the falmon taken before April, or to the 

 fetting in of the warm weather, is fent frefh to Lon- 



* The falmon barrel holds above forty-two gallons, wine 

 meafure. 



U . don 



