204 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



with the salmon parr, from which it is distinguished 

 as the " orange fin." 



o 



Old hands, bent on larger game, are busy getting 

 ready their stiff rods, which no arms seem fit 

 to wield, except their own. Some of the gaudy 

 fraternity, improperly named flies, resembling 

 nothing in the heaven above, in the earth beneath, 

 or in the waters under the earth, become familiar 

 objects on the stream. There are various ways, 

 known to the initiated, of angling for big fish ; but, 

 far be it from me to tell what I have seen. 



When a salmon reaches the mouth of the Tweed 

 at Berwick, he is usually in splendid condition. 

 In April, and May he is well supplied with more or 

 less digested herring ; during the rest of the year 

 with sand-eels, or other available food. Whether 

 he eats any more till on his way down the stream 

 again, has been gravely disputed. When caught 

 and opened, during the interim, no trace of food is 

 found, and the stomach is usually in a more or less 

 puckered condition, presumably from want of use. 



This conclusion involves that the fish which runs 

 up in the winter, or early spring, and does not spawn 

 till the back-end, remains in the river for eight, 

 or nine months, absolutely without food. That he 

 takes enough to supply his lessened need seems 



