46 THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



The foregoing estimate is based, not only on per- 

 sonal observation, but also from information received 

 from anglers and others engaged by the water-side 

 on different rivers in the United Kingdom, and I do 

 not think that my calculations are far wrong. By 

 watching them at various points, and comparing 

 notes afterwards, the pace salmon travel might easily 

 be ascertained. It would be easy to discover the 

 exact hour they reach the first pool, when the 

 journey may be said to have commenced ; and with, 

 say, half a dozen watchers stationed at known dis- 

 tances along twenty miles of river, the most accurate 

 information would be forthcoming, and the rate 

 salmon travel could thus be ascertained to a nicety. 

 Travelling salmon generally show themselves at the 

 tails of pools directly they reach them, and at 

 all the most frequented of those places a look-out 

 might be kept. In summer, when salmon travel 

 fastest, and they begin their journey at the very 

 commencement of the weekly close time, some may 

 pass beyond the highest netting-stations, should all 



