38 The North Country Angler. 



they spawn, is generally five or six months. In 

 the first four of which they are in their full per- 

 fection, as several other creatures are > whilst the 

 eggs are growing in them, as in hens, &c. 

 Where there are no dams to stop them, as in the 

 Tweed, and most of the rivers in Scotland and 

 Ireland, they will change the salt for the fresh 

 water several times in the slimmer, when they 

 taste afresh, as the fisermen call it, that is to 

 say, when a great flood and a spring-tide reach 

 a good way into the sea. And as these migra- 

 tions or changes are necessary for their health, 

 so there are some reasons that in a manner 

 force them to it. For when they have been too 

 long in the sea, and have laid among the rocks 

 and sea-weed, the sea lice get on to them, stick 

 so close, and make them so uneasy, that they 

 will rub the very skin off, where the lice bite 

 them ; and nothing cures them of these tormen- 

 tors so soon as the fresh water; and then again, 

 when they have been about a month in the river, 

 and lie under banks, roots or stones, the fresh 

 water lice creep on to them, and force them to 

 get to sea again, to be freed from them, which 

 the salt water does effectually. And here I 

 must observe, how this migration of these crea- 

 tures answers the same end of Providence, with 

 that of woodcocks, quails, &c. and several kinds 

 offish that go round our island at their proper 

 seasons, and furnish all the neighbouring inhabi- 

 tants with delicious food* 



But the sea lice are more troublesome to the 

 salmon, when they grow big-bellied, at the end 

 of August, and beginning of September, for 



