SALMONID^. 79 



place, hud several battles for a particular spot, but the Trout was 

 eventually the master. The comparative size of these fish is not men- 

 tioned, but of course there was something approaching to an equality, 

 as the Pike constantly preys on small Trout. 



It is very certain that, although great havoc is made among Salmon 

 by the Seal and the Otter, there is no fresh-water fish which would 

 venture on attacking them, not even the Pike, at his largest size. 



The Salmon grows to a very large bulk, though the average run is 

 probably from eight to sixteen pounds ; and as is the case with many 

 kinds offish, the middle-sized, of twelve or fourteen pounds, are gene- 

 rally considered the best in an epicurean point of view, and afibrd, 

 commonly speaking, nearly as much sport when hooked, as the mon- 

 sters of the species. 



" The present London season, 1835," says Mr. Yarrel, speaking on 

 this point, " has been more than usually remarkable for large Salmon. 

 I have seen ten different fish, varying from thirty-eight to forty pounds 

 each. A notice appeared in the public papers of one that weighed 

 fifty-five pounds. Salmon, however, of much larger size have been 

 occasionally taken. Mr. Mudie has recorded one of sixty pounds. 

 Tn a note to the history of the Salmon, in several editions of Walton, 

 mention is made of one that weighed seventy pounds ; Pennant has 

 noticed one of seventy-four pounds ; the largest known, as far as I am 

 aware, came into the possession of INIr. Groves, the fishmonger in 

 Bond-street, about the season of 1821. This Salmon, a female, 

 weighed eighty-three pounds ; was a short fish for the weight, but of 

 very unusual thickness and breadth. When cut up, the flesh was fine 

 in color, and proved of excellent quality. 



" The Salmon of the largest size killed by angling, of which I have 

 been able to collect particulars, are as follows : In the Thames, Octo- 

 ber 3, 1812, at Shepperton Deeps, Mr. G. Marshall, of Brewer-street, 

 London, caught and killed a Salmon that weighed twenty-one pounds 

 four ounces, with a single gut, without a landing-net." 



Sir Humphrey Davy is recorded as having caught an immense fish, 

 weighing about forty-two pounds, immediately above Yair-bridge, and 

 captured him after a severe struggle. 



Mr. Lascelles, in his letters on sporting, says : — " The largest 



