366 SALMON TROUT FISHING. 



into the fresh water, in order to enjoy those alternations of tem- 

 perature and food, in which all this family would appear espe- 

 cially to rejoice. 



In the Scottish and English waters, the Salmon Trout, like 

 the true Salmon, ascend quite to the head waters of the streams 

 which they frequent, and deposit their ova precisely in the same 

 manner as the other of their congeners. Here, it is evident, 

 from Mr. Perley's reports to the Bntish Parliament on the 

 Fisheries of the Province, that they do nothing of the kind. 



In the St. Lawrence, I have never heard of their being taken 

 above Montreal, and rarely above Quebec, although there is no 

 obstruction of any sort to hinder their running quite up to the 

 mouth of Niagara, as is the case with the true Salmon. 



One thing, however, it may be observed in this connexion, is 

 very evident — that we know, comparatively speaking, almost 

 nothing of the nature of fishes' instincts. 



That they possess exceedingly tenacious memories, I cannot 

 in the least doubt ; and I have more almost than strong suspi- 

 cion that these memories become hereditary, and are so trans- 

 mitted from generation to generation. 



In no other way can we account for that extraordinary 

 instinct which leads back the young bird to the nest in which 

 it was hatched, the Grilse to the river in which it had its birth — 

 since the young birds are deserted by their parents at a period 

 long antecedent to their return from their migration, and the 

 fish never have the protection of their progenitors. 



Nor in any other way can we explain the fact that the true 

 Salmon never enter the Niagara River, although they run quite 

 up to its mouth ; even if we admit that its waters are entirely 



