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name of Lachs, at which period also they have a curved knob 
at the end of the lower jaw, and are beautifully spotted. The 
crook on the lower jaw is much larger in the male than in the 
female. They are only found in rivers which empty themselves 
into the German Ocean. Sometimes they are of great size, 
even reaching 36lb. The shoulders are fleshy. Internally, 
they are formed so that one sees two openings from the mouth 
down the throat, the one into the stomach, the other, which is 
closed by a thin white skin, not proceeding far. These fish may 
be regarded according to the way that they ruminate or chew 
their food, after the manner of some four-footed animals. They 
have many teeth upon the tongue, which is short and broad. | 
The Nature and Properties of the Salmon.—Those who have 
written on the properties of the salmon are not unanimous. 
Some write that the salmon spawns only in the sea, then comes 
to fresh waters to grow. Others, again, say that as the salmon 
grow up from the eggs, towards winter in the fresh water, in 
which they grow a little, subsequently returning to the sea, 
where they become full grown, and afterwards they ascend the 
fresh water streams, which opinion is not only that of expe- 
rienced fishermen, but is confirmed by our daily experience, for 
salmon are largely caught by us. After Christmas Day, that 
is, at the end of the 12th month, they are no more seen. There 
are two reasons advanced for the salmon doing this; first, that 
they spawn and spend their youth, and grow large in the sea; 
the second is, that they return to the river and spawn when of 
suitable size. 
Pontorripan (Natural History of Norway, 1755) asserted 
that he was well assured that salmon chiefly eject their roe at 
the mouths of rivers, where they empty themselves into the sea, 
or else a little above the salt water. 
If this last opinion were correct a question might arise 
whether there is any necessity for protecting salmon rivers, as 
did they spawn in the sea many of their young could be raised 
in the same localities. 
It is useless pointing out to the advocates of this opinion, 
who are mostly net fishermen, that could they do so, why do 
