The North Country Angler 39 



then they are heavier and lazier, and lie more 

 among the rocks, and get the more lice upon 

 them; and this forces them into the fresh rivers 

 upon a double account, to be eased of the ver- 

 min, and their natural burthen too. At this 

 time, their skin grows thicker than in summer, 

 and of a dusky copperish colour, to make them 

 endure the cold of the winter season the better. 

 At this time also, the milter is easily distinguished 

 from the roe ; for now, at the end of his lower 

 chop, there grows a hard boney gib, from which 

 they are then called the gib-fish, larger or less, 

 according to the age and size of the saljmon, in 

 some above an inch long, and taper. And this 

 gib, as it grows, makes for itself a socket or 

 hole in the upper jaw, which nails up his mouth 

 when it is shut ; and besides, all the fore part 

 of the head is at this , time more tough and 

 horney. 



This is one of the numberless works of the 

 God of nature, by which the fish is armed and 

 prepared for the work he has to do, when they 

 come to proper places for spawing. 



At what particular time they choose their mates 

 and pair like most other creatures, none of our 

 books of angling tell us ; but I suppose it must 

 be as they come up the rivers in shoals of three 

 or four hundred together. And who knows, 

 but they may keep to their own tribes, and match 

 or choose mates among their relations ; for it has 

 been observed, that salmon particularly, and sal- 

 mon-trouts will come up the same rivers, and 

 spawn in the very same places where they were 

 bred $ and I am inclined to believe the same of 



