THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 5 



as salmon have been found in increased numbers in 

 rivers where they were exceedingly scarce before 

 the fishery laws were amended. Notwithstanding 

 this fact, the retail price unfortunately keeps pro- 

 hibitively high in the early part of the season, whilst 

 in the middle of the summer it seldom falls below 

 IS. 6d. per pound. The consequence is that poor 

 people do not taste salmon till near the end of the 

 season, when the fish are cheap, and in very poor 

 condition. In all probability the price will never 

 fall very much early in the year, as there are, com- 

 paratively speaking, so few rivers in the kingdom 

 that are then adequately stocked with fish. Conse- 

 quently the supply is a limited one, and is by no 

 means sufficient to meet the demands even of 

 those who can afford to pay the usual exorbitant 

 prices. 



If it be true that spring, summer, and autumn 

 salmon are distinct breeds, it is evident that the 

 trouble and expense which have been incurred in the 

 artificial hatching of the ova of the late-running fish. 



