62 BeeedinCt Salmon and Trout. 



them in the rippUng- streams, and if one incautiously showed one- 

 self to them they took fright, and retired into deep water. To sit 

 on a wet bank or a cold rock in the end of November and through 

 December, perhaps in driving sleet or snow, was not on the whole 

 comfortable. Now, had it been possible to take a salmon and get 

 it to lay its egg's in a nice comfortable nest in a tub by the fire, 

 observation would have been easy. But no salmon could be in- 

 duced to behave in this reasonable manner. 



Salmon, as you all probably know, run up our various rivers at 

 all times of the year, whenever the water suits them. Some rivers 

 are early and some are late. In the early rivers the fish make 

 their way slowly up to the head waters. In the late rivers g'reat 

 shoals of heavy fish come in late in the autumn heavy in spiwn, 

 and make their way up as far as they can. By the end of Novem- 

 ber great numbers get on to the spawning beds, and through 

 December and January the laying of eggs goes merrily on if 

 weather and water are propitious. They are very particular in 

 the choice of a suitable spot for their operations. What it is that 

 decides them in their choice I could nevei" make out. They must 

 have a gravely bottom, and sufficient stream over it to keep it 

 clear of mud ; any deposit of mud or sand on the top of the eggs 

 is fatal. But I have seen streams which looked in every respect 

 suited for salmon or trout with scarcely ever a spawning fish on 

 them, and others apparently of much the same character crowded 

 with them. But I judged that the fish knew their own business 

 better than I did, and therefore did not interfere. You will see 

 them cruising about examining the ground as if they were not quite 

 able to make up their minds, but when they have once made up their 

 minds the female sets to work with a will. Her great broad tail 

 sweeps over the gravel from side to side, and sends it flying from 

 under her. Whether she actually touches the gravel with her tail 

 or not I am not sure, but I think not, except sometimes by acci- 

 dent. Were she to do so it seems to me that her tail would be 

 vi^orn away in a short time. I think she has some knowledge of 

 hydraulic power, and drives the water down upon the gravel with 

 such force that it is scattered on each side and awav down stream 

 behind her. Opinions differ as to whether the male fish takes any 

 part in the making of what I suppose we may call the nest. 

 Some have told me that the male uses the sort of horn which 

 develops at the point of the lower jaw at spawning time to 



