BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 



5. A Salmon. When it returns for the second time 



from the sea. 



6. A Kelt, or Slat. A Salmon that has spawned. 



7. A Kipper. A male Salmon. 



8. A Grilse-Kelt. When the fish spawned as a 



Grilse. 



The Chars and Trouts belong to the same genus as 

 the Salmon, and although a number of different kinds 

 are now recognised as occurring in various British 

 waters, it is impossible to include them all in this book, 

 or to discuss the diflPerences between them. Suffice it 

 to say that the Salmon is well entitled to be called the 

 King of British Fishes, for it undoubtedly affords the 

 finest sport to the angler, and attains the largest size of 

 any fresh-water inhabitant. It ascends rivers for the 

 purpose of spawning, and there remains for several 

 months. It overcomes obstacles met with during its 

 up-river progress with amazing cleverness, leaping falls 

 and weirs with comparative case, and never giving in 

 until all efforts to clear the obstacle have failed. If 

 watch is kept, the fish will be seen to make the attempt 

 on several occasions. 



It is a great sight to watch a Grilse or Salmon returning 



to its home- waters from the sea, as when the river is 



in suitable condition for the ascent to be made, great 



activity prevails, and a large number of big fish may be 



observed .^During a visit I paid to the upper reaches of 



the beautiful North Tync River in the Autumn of 1921, 

 64 



