6 THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



with the object of Increasing the number of spring or 

 summer fish, have been wasted and thrown away. 

 If, on the other hand, the different migrations are of 

 one and the same breed, or in other w^ords, if the 

 autumn and winter fish breed those which ascend 

 our rivers in the spring and summer months, it is 

 manifest that, although late-running salmon are infe- 

 rior in edible quality, they are as valuable as spring 

 or summer fish for breeding purposes ; therefore, by 

 affording them additional protection, we should 

 increase the numbers of the spring and summer 

 runs, and then a most valuable article of food would 

 soon be brought within the reach of the poor man in 

 summer, if not in spring. 



The question arises, are spring, summer, autumn, 

 and winter salmon distinct breeds or not ? That 

 question, I maintain, is of very great importance, 

 not only to the poor man, but also to salmon- 

 fishermen • in general, as well as to the world at 

 large. 



In a very interesting letter to the Field of 

 Nov. 29th, 1S85, headed "A Day's Spawning," 



