

CHAPTER VII 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE SALMON ; WITH DIRECTIONS 

 HOW TO FISH FOR HIM 



[jfourtb 2>a] 



Pise. The Salmon is accounted the king of fresh water 

 fish ; and is ever bred in rivers relating to the sea, yet 

 so high or far from it, as admits of no tincture of salt 

 or brackishness. He is said to breed or cast his spawn, 

 in most rivers, in the month of August : some say, that 

 then they dig a hole or grave in a safe place in the gravel, 

 and there place their eggs or spawn, after the melter has 

 done his natural office, and then hide it most cunningly, 

 and cover it over with gravel and stones and then 

 leave it to that Creator's protection, who, by a gentle 

 heat which He infuses into that cold element, makes 

 it brood and beget life in the spawn, and to become 

 samlets early in the spring next following.* 



The salmons having spent their appointed time, and 

 done this natural duty in the fresh waters, they then 

 haste to the sea before winter, both the melter and 

 spawner : but if they be stopped by flood-gates or 

 weirs or lost in the fresh waters, then those so left behind 



* If salmon spawned in August, which not one in many thousand 

 does, there would be young salmon (salmon-fry) in December, nay, 

 in November. Salmon ova are incubated in about 120 days on the 

 average in the winter months in 140 days ; in those of autumn 

 and winter in about 100 days. The duration of the incubating time 

 depends on the temperature of atmosphere and water. Salmon 

 spawn deposited and impregnated on the 1st of August, would be 

 hatched very probably by the 1st of November, whereas spawn 

 deposited in November would not be incubated before March. The 

 temperature at the two periods would make the difference. E. 



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