AMERICAN SALMON. 97 



of the river named above, twenty fish in a single clay's fishing, 

 one of which weighed above forty pounds, while the smallest, if 

 I am not greatly mistaken, exceeded sixteen. This was all done 

 with the fly. 



" It may be stated generally,'' says Yarrel, ^' that Salmon 

 pass the summer in the sea, or near the mouth of the estuary ; 

 in autumn they push up the rivers, diverging to their tributary 

 streams; in winter they inhabit the pure fresh water, and in 

 spring again descend to the sea." 



These habits of the fish are unquestionably more or less 

 modified by climate and other influences, and it is certain that 

 in America the Salmon enter the rivers, and begin to run up 

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

 and gravelly head- waters of the streams, and are preparing to 

 spawn ; and I presume that as soon as that operation is finished 

 they return to the salt water to recruit, and consequently that 

 here they do not pass the winter in fresh water. 



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

 not go very far out to sea, but remain constantly within sound- 

 ings, and not very far distant from their native streams, to 

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

 very questionable. 



Many are taken on the British coasts, while running along 

 the shore in the summer months, and searching for the mouths 

 of the rivers which they desire to ascend; but very few are 

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

 when they are captured in great numbers by means of 

 stake-nets. 



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



H 



