OF A SALMON. 78 



covered up to form a fresh one ; and how long 

 these labours continue, until both fish, exhausted 

 and emaciated by their exertions, become what are 

 called "Kipper," or unseasonable salmon, quite 

 changed from the elegant rounded form, so gifted 

 with muscular jpower with which they first entered 

 the river, and display a long lean lank body, 

 with disproportionately large head, and flesh so 

 worthless that none but a poacher would ever 

 pursue them. Unfortunately, however, the 

 poacher does still do so, unless restrained by 

 a seasonable apprehension of the law; and at 

 no period is the fish more completely in his 

 power. Weak,, languid, incapable of any vigor- 

 ous or continued exertion, the poor sick salmon 

 seeks only the covert of a hole under some 

 friendly root of a tree, or large stone, and lies 

 there for hours, apparently in a half lethargic 

 state, waiting for his strength to be in some 

 measure recruited by complete repose, ere he 

 again commences his journey to the sea. It 

 is easy then to discover him to ensnare or 

 destroy him : you may net him, or gaff him, or 

 spear him ; his former quick eye, intuitive ap- 

 prehension, and rapid flight from danger appear 

 to have deserted him ; you may arrive at him 

 ^vitll the hand, or even the foot, and once gently 

 stroke his body, he remains as it were paralyzed 



