AMONG THE BORDER STREAMS 205 



beyond dispute, and a quick digestion accounts for 

 the rest. 



Although the movements of the salmon, when at 

 sea, have not been very clearly followed, seeing 

 that he is seldom, or never caught, we know that, 

 while there, he leads a very active life. He is, by 

 no means, a coast loafer, but joins the other raiders 

 of the deep on their predatory excursions; and 

 when he returns, he comes from afar. Under these 

 circumstances, a generous diet is necessary. 



From the moment he enters the river, however, 

 the conditions are altered. The immense waste is 

 reduced to zero. No more exertion is needed than 

 just sufficient to maintain his position in the runs. 

 It is practically a state of semi-active, or semi- 

 passive hibernation, comparable with that of land 

 animals, only not carried to the same extent; in 

 which he can afford to live largely on the stores 

 laid up in the sea, possibly against this very 

 time. 



Salmon visit the rivers mainly for the purpose 

 of spawning. In the Tweed, the spring, and 

 summer fish seem to play for awhile in the tidal 

 waters, and then go out to sea again. From the 

 marks frequently seen, it is supposed that some 

 of them, at least, may have run in to escape the 



