OF GREAT BRITAIN. 27 



of not less than from 6 to 20 fathoms. Professor 

 Huxley disagreed with this view as regards the 

 nature of the food, and believed that it consisted 

 chiefly of a numerous class of small creatures (Ento- 

 mostracous Crustacea) found in semi-solid masses 

 upon the surface frequently of deep water in fact, 

 that the Salmon swims in a species of animal-soup, 

 in which it has merely to open its mouth and swal- 

 low what enters it. Dr. Knox was of opinion that 

 the food consisted of the ova of various kinds of 

 Echinodermata (Star-fish, Sea Urchins, Encrinites, 

 &c.) and some of the Crustacea (Crab and Lobster 

 family). Faber, in his " Natural History of the 

 Fish of Ireland," says, "The common Salmon 

 feeds on small fishes and various small marine 

 animals." Dr. Fleming and several other natu- 

 ralists have observed upon their partiality for the 

 Sand-eel or Sand-launce a fact which is con- 

 firmed by Sir John Richardson, who states that 

 he has himself taken this fish from their stomach. 

 Sir William Jardine also says that in the north of 

 Sutherland a mode of Salmon-fishing is success- 

 fully practised in the firths with Sand-eels attached 

 to a buoy or bladder, and allowed to float with the 

 tide up the narrow estuaries. The worm, the 

 Minnow, and Parr- tail are all, under certain cir- 

 cumstances, known to be deadly baits for the 

 Salmon ; and in an essay published in the " Trans- 

 actions of the Highland Society," vol. ii. p. 392, 

 Mr. Alex. Morrison says, " I have taken Salmon 



