AMHIUCAX SALMON'. 07 



of the rivtr named abuvc, twenty lisli in a sinj^lc clay's lisliiiif^, 

 one of which weij^lied above forty ponnds, while the smallest, if 

 1 am not ji^rcntly mistaken, exceeded sixteen. This was all dune 

 with the My. 



" It may he stated {generally," says Vanel, " that Salmon 

 pass the snmmer in the >ea, or near the month of the estuary ; 

 in autnmn tjicy pnsh np the rivers, divi-r^in;^ to thi-ir trihutary 

 strenms ; in winter they inliahit the pnre fresh water, and in 

 spring; a^ain descend to the sea." 



These habits of the fish arc unqncstionably more or less 

 modihed by climate and other intlncnccs, and it is certain that 

 in America the Salmon enter the rivers, and beijin to rnn nj) 

 them in Jnnc ; by September they have arrived at the shallow 

 and g^ravelly head-waters of the streams, and are |)reparin{^ to 

 spawn ; aiul I presmnc? that as soon as that operation is hnished 

 tlicy retnrn to the salt water to reernit, and conseqnentlv that 

 here they do not [)ass the winter in frish water. 



It has been snpposcd by many observers, that the Salmon do 

 not go very far ont to sea, but remain constantly within souiul- 

 nv^, and not very far distant from their native streams, to 

 which, whenever it is practicable, they retnrn ; this is, however, 

 very <picstionable. 



Many are taken on the British coasts, «hile rnnnin^ alonj^ 

 the shore in the summer months, and scarchiuf; for the mouths 

 of the rixiTs whieh they desire to jiscend ; but wry few are 

 taken here until they have made their way np the estuaries, 

 when they arc captured in ^eat numbers by means of 

 stake-nets. 



They do not, it is true, invariably return to the streams in 



II 



