SALMO SALAR. 271 



there are numerous local names in the different Salmon districts. The young- 

 fish during- its first and second year is known as Parr, Pink, and Smolt. On 

 its first return from the sea it is a Grilse, or Salmon-peal, After spawning 

 it is a Kelt, though the male fish is then generally termed a Kipper, and the 

 female a Shedder, or Baggit. 



Salmon are very common in all Scandinavian rivers, from Lapland to 

 Scania, though fishes found in the streams which flow into the North Sea 

 and Cattegat are reputed to be fatter than in rivers which enter the Baltic. 



Carlyle assures us a sheep would be unable to distinguish between the 

 brightness of the sun and the brightness of a scoured pewter tankard, only recog- 

 nising that both were of incomparable splendour. And, according to Lloyd, the 

 Swedish fishermen, like English Salmon poachers, having discovered the 

 Salmon^s love for bright objects, make use of the torch at night to convey the im- 

 pression of sunrise, in order to lure the fishes to their nets. But the Norwegian 

 fishermen, improving on this method, whitewash the rocks in the vicinity 

 of their nets, or, where there are no rocks, erect white boards, or suspend sheets, 

 which are termed " Salmon attractors^^^ designed to represent the foam of the 

 cataract, which the Salmon is seeking to ascend. But while the white colour 

 is foimd attractive, the fishermen believe that the fish avoids red colours, so 

 that red clothing is carefully discarded, and, according to Bishop Pontoppidan, 

 even red tiles have been removed for this reason from a fisherman^s house. 

 This objection, however, does not extend to food, for Buckland mentions that 

 boiled prawns are an excellent bait in Scotland. 



Salmon are said to fear shadows, being driven to the bottom by the 

 shadow of a bird crossing the water. Their habits, indeed, depend a good deal 

 on the weather. When the wind blows from the west or north-west, 

 Salmon enter the Banders Fiord, in the east of Denmark, and ascend a dis- 

 tance of twenty-eight English miles in less than four hours ; but if the wind 

 changes to the east or south, little or no progress is made, so that the coming 

 of Salmon is looked upon as a kind of storm warning. They always go up 

 against the wind, so that in Jutland, an off-shore wind is sometimes termed a 

 " Salmon-wind.''^ During a thunder-storm the fishes lie still, or, at least, are 

 not seen ; and even at ordinary times, according to Danish fishermen, the 

 Salmon is visible for only about six hours in the twenty-foui', namely, from 

 five to six in the morning, from eight till nine, and from eleven till twelve ; 

 it appears again in the afternoon from five till six, and from eight till nine, 

 and in the night from eleven till twelve, and one till two. 



The spawning-time varies with the country. In the south of Sweden 

 and North Germany the period is commonly at the end of October, or 

 the beginning of November. But in Denmark spawning is later, and may not 



