in February, they are found in great numbers in the 

 lower parts of the fresh water rivers, and in the friths. In 

 March, particularly at the beginning of the month, many 

 are still to be met with. But, by the end of March, they 

 become rare ; and although they are occasionally found 

 even in April, yet the number is small. 



It is a considerable time before the spawn become ani- 

 mated, and assume the appearance of fish. Early in the 

 spring, under the influence of the sun's heat, they begin 

 to grow up, (as was forcibly described by witnesses in 

 the Tay case), ' like beds of young onions,' or ' the 

 c thick briard of a well manured field ;' the head, con- 

 tinuing imbedded in the gravel, and the other parts of 

 the body rising in the water. In the end of March, or 

 beginning of April, the young fish separate from the ova, 

 and are finally detached from the gravel. They are then 

 extremely diminutive and delicate. After growing, 

 which they rapidly do, to the length of a few inches, and 

 while yet without much appearance of muscular vigour, 

 their natural instinct leads them towards the sea, and they 

 are aided in their progress by the vernal floods. 



At first, they keep near the margin of the river, avoid- 

 ing the current of the mid stream as too impetuous, and 

 seeking what fishermen call the easy-water- at the side. In 

 most rivers, this migration takes place about the end of 

 April, or beginning of May ; and, as the fry pass down- 

 wards through that part of the river which is not affected 

 by the tide, 6r only so affected as to moderate the current, 

 they may be seen in myriads, moving along slowly and 

 with seeming timidity. 



But there is a certain point in the course of every 

 great river, where the margin ceases to be easy-water, 

 where the tide operates more directly, and where there 



