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XLIV. On the Ascent of Salmon over the Elevations in the 

 Coj/.rse of Rivers, called Salmon- Leaps. By Joiia Carr, 

 Esq., of' Muncliester. 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



Sir, In natural history the correction of an old error is 

 somciinies of equal importance with the deveiopmcnt of a 

 new truth; hut when the latter is made productive of the 

 former, the case is still more interesting. I ha\e to offer 

 to your notice, Mr. Editor, an instance of this description 

 in the natural history of the saIn)on ; and if you think it 

 deservino; a place in your respectable monthly repository, it 

 is verv naich at your service. 



The naiural element of salmon certainly is salt, not 

 fresh water. It is in the sea only that they acquire their 

 growth, and attain that vigorous strength and muscular 

 energy in which they are not, perhaj)S, excelled b\ any othep 

 animal of equal weiiiht and bulk. Nature, however, has 

 determined tliat they shall propagate their species only in 

 fresh water; and it is for tha.tiSole, but important purpose, 

 that they quit the ocean and ascend rivers and streams al- 

 most up to their very sources, in every country where they 

 abouiid. 



Summer and autumn are the seasons when they enter 

 fresh water in the sreatest numbers, and when the shal- 

 lowness and transparency of the streams necessarily occa- 

 sion the period of their ascent being limited to tin.es of flood 

 oidv. But at these times such are the instinctive energies 

 which impel, and the muscular powers which enable, them 

 to advance, that no natural or artificial barrier across the 

 streams, ovei- uhich a siijfciency of water tmniles, has ever 

 yet betn known to arrest their progress upwards ; and if at. 

 these times their cour'^e is ever stayed, it results less from 

 the height or other difficulty of the opposing obstacle, than 

 from a deiieiency of that due proportion of the descending 

 flinti, whicli is requi«ite to allow the natural force to the 

 exertion of their wonderful powers'. 



From the elevated ascent of these extraordinary fish, 

 many waterfalls and cascades have acquired the name of 

 snlmoii-loap'i. Thev are numerous in ihe united kinsj^dom, 

 being f<;uiid in Wales, Ireland, and Scotland ; and some 

 are of such a height as to call forth the admiration and 

 aslonishmtiit of every person who views them. No one has 

 ever seen a salmon actually leap over any of these eleva- 

 tions, and the proof of their doing so rests wholly on the 



Vol. 34. No. 139. Nov. Ibog. X circumstance 



