296 SALMON FISHING. 



height, by which the fish may ascend to the cool and gravelly 

 head- waters, in which they deposit their spawn. 



Such an aperture or run-way, which need not be of more 

 than two or three feet square, would not occasion any material 

 waste of water in rivers of the vast volume and rapidity which 

 are characteristic of all the American Salmon rivers, and, there- 

 fore, would detract nothing from the utihty of the works, while, 

 by suffering this most valuable fish to ascend the course, and so 

 to propagate its species, it would ensure to the inhabitants of 

 the inland shores a delicious variety of food, and create anew an 

 important article of commerce. 



It is singular that the Salmon of the lakes are never known 

 to enter the Niagara River, although they are constantly taken 

 at its mouth. They might ascend it some sixteen or seventeen 

 miles, to the foot of the Falls, but I believe it to be a fact that 

 none have ever been taken within the stream. 



The cause of this is probably to be found in the great depth 

 of the Niagara River, in its abrupt and wall-like shores, and in 

 the total absence of gravel beds, or pebbly shoals of any kind, 

 on which they can deposit their ova. 



Again, I am not aware that Salmon are ever taken in the 

 Black River, the Rackett River, or any other of the fine streams, 

 all abounding with the finest Brook Trout, which make their 

 way from the romantic region of the Adirondack lakes and high- 

 lands, to the northward, into the basin of the St. Lawrence. 



Everywhere to the northward of the great Canadian river, to 

 the extreme Arctic regions, the Salmon is found in vast num- 

 bers, and, together with the White Fish or Attihawmeg, the 

 delicious Arctic Grayling, Back's Charr, and the Common 



