HABITS OF THE SALMON. fi8 



sheet of water, Moosehead Lake, which abounds in the common 

 Lake Trout, growing to a very large size, the Salmo Confims of 

 Dekay. I presume that the true Salmon no longer has the 

 power of making his way up to the head-waters of this 

 beautiful and limpid stream, in consequence of the numerous 

 and lofty dams which bar its course; but of this I am not 

 certain. 



The Salmon enters our rivers, then, rarely before the middle 

 of May, and is taken in the estuaries so late as the end of July ; 

 and during the early part of the season, nearly, indeed, until 

 the latter date, does not ascend far above tide-water, generally 

 going up with the flood, and returning with the ebb. At this 

 time they are taken by thousands in stake-nets, on the Penobscot 

 and other eastern rivers, and sent thence, packed in ice, to the 

 markets of all the larger cities of the United States. 



At the time of their first entering the fresh water, when they 

 are in the highest possible condition, in the greatest perfection 

 of flesh and flavour, and at the height of external beauty, they 

 are of a rich transparent bluish-black, varied with greenish 

 reflections along the back, these colours gradually dying away 

 as they approach and pass the lateral line, below which the belly 

 is of the most beautiful glistening silvery whiteness. The dorsal, 

 caudal, and pectoral fins are dusky black, the small fatty second 

 dorsal fin bluish-black, the ventral fins white on the outer side, 

 but somewhat darker within, and the anal fin silvery white, like 

 the belly. 



There are generally a few dark spots dispersed along the 

 body about the lateral line ; and in the female fish these are 

 more numerous and conspicuous than in the males. 



