OF GREAT BRITAIN. 13 



Salmon assume the recldisli-coloured tints distinc- 

 tive of spawning-fish. 



With the approach of the spawning-time, the 

 anxiety of the Salmon to ascend increases. They 

 shoot up rapids with the velocity of arrows, and 

 make wonderful efforts to surmount cascades and 

 other impediments, frequently clearing a height of 

 two or three yards at a bound. It has been calcu- 

 lated — though I do not vouch for the accuracy of 

 the calculation — that, when swimming, or rather 

 darting at full speed, the Salmon will glide through 

 the water at the rate of about 1,500 feet per 

 minute, or 2,160,000 feet (upwards of 400 miles) 

 per day — a pace which, if it could be maintained, 

 would speedily carry' the fish round the world. 

 Marvellous stories are related of Salmon-jumps, 

 some altogether incredible, others, to say the least 

 of it, highly improbable. No doubt the depth of the 

 water from which they take their spring materially 

 influences its height ; but, as a general rule, the 

 limit of the perpendicular leap certainly does not 

 exceed 12 or 14 feet; or, if they rise higher than 

 that, the effort is aimless, and they are dashed down 

 again by the current before they have recovered 

 their energy. Frequently they are killed by the 

 exhaustive violence of their exertions, and some- 

 times they alight upon the rocks and are captured. 



With the advance of the season the fish begin to 

 gain the upper and shallower reaches, or spawning- 

 grounds ; and at this time all the Salmon and 



