308 HISTORY OF THE 



fcent, by bafkets placed on purpofe, from which 

 they cannot efcape. The fliooting of falmon in their 

 leap is fometimes practifed for amufement. 



The falmon is a northern fifh ; occupying in the 

 European feas, the latitudes lying between France 

 and Greenland. 



Clear ftreams with a gravelly or fandy bottom 

 produce the bed filh, and alfo the mod numerous. 

 They abound in the Severn, the Eden, Tine, and 

 Tweed. This laft being the greateft fifhery in Bri- 

 tain, the following particulars communicated to the 

 public by the late Mr. Potts, of Berwick, may be 

 acceptable to moil readers. 



At the latter end of the year, or in the month of 

 November, the falmon begin to prefs up the rivers* 

 as far as they can reach, in order to fpawn; when 

 that time approaches, they fearch for a place fit for 

 the puipofe : the male and fejpale unite in forming 

 a proper receptacle for it in the land or gravel, 

 about the depth of 18 igches. This done they cover 

 it carefully with their tails, where it lies buried till 

 fpring, if not disturbed by-violent floods. The fal- 

 mon, now thin and lean, and known by the name of 

 kipper, hafcen to fea as foon as they are able in order 

 to recover their ftrength. 



About the end of March the young begin to ap- 

 pear, which gradually increafe to the length of 4 or 

 5 inches, and are then termed fmelts or fmouts.-j- 

 About the beginning of May the river feems to be 

 all alive with them, when a feafonable flood hurries 

 them to the lea, few or none being left behind. 



About the middle of June, the earlieft of the 

 fmouts or fry, begin to drop back from the fea into 



" Viz. The Tweed and the various auxiliary itreams which flow 

 into that river from different directions in Scotland,' as the Tiviot, 

 the |Yarfow, and the Etterick, by which ftreams they afcend above 

 40 miles from the fea at Berwick. 



f An appellation frequently given in Scotland to children of 

 {mall growth. 



the 



