THE SALMON. 157 



I believe, are justly considered to be superior in 

 flavour to any bred in other rivers. Salmon are an- 

 gled for at the top ii,enerally, with artificial flies of a 

 very large size, of brown and glaring colours, made 

 of peacock's feathers, &c., nearly as big as a large 

 butterfly. (See Angling Apparatus, Plate 4.J They 

 sife also, perchance, fished for at bottom, both in the 

 Thames and Medway, with a strong ledger-line, and 

 a No. 1 hook tied on gimp, which is whipped over 

 with silk, waxed with shoemaker's wax : the bait is a 

 raw muscle, prawn, or cockle, taken clear from the 

 shell. They will sometimes take a small Fish, such 

 as is used when trolling with a live-bait for Pike, and 

 also large well- scowered lob- worms, of which put twa 

 on at a time. Salmon leave the sea for the rivers 

 Thames and Lea in August, and deposit their spawn 

 about Christmas j in the Spring, they return again to 

 the sea, generally dividing the year in fresh and salt 

 water. During the first year, they are called Salmon 

 Smelts, then Morts, Half Fish, &c. In Scotland, 

 small Salmon are called Grilts. The Pink Trout is 

 thought, in the North, to be bred from a female Sal- 

 mon's spawn being impregnated by a Trout. 



The Salmon is unknown in the Mediterranean sea, 

 ^d other warm climates, but is found in northern 

 Waters ; it lives in fresh water as well as salt^ going 

 up rivers, in Autumn, hundreds of miles to deposit 

 their spawn : intent only on this object, they spring 

 i^p cataracts, and over objects of great height. When 

 they are unexpectedly obstructed in their journey, 

 p 



