230 NATURAL HISTORY OF SALMON. 



CHAPTEE X. 



THE HABITS OP THE ANGLER'S FISH, AND THE BEST WAYS 

 OF CATCHING THEM FAIRLY. 



THE SALMON. Salmo Salar. 



THE natural history of this splendid fish, the pride 

 and profit of the great rivers of the British Isles, 

 was nearly unknown fifteen years ago. The 

 greatest natural historians, from the French 

 Lacepede down to our own observant Yarrell, 

 were ignorant of many of the main features of its 

 existence. Until the period alluded to we were 

 nearly all in error with respect to its growth, and 

 we thought the parr a salmon fry. We have now 

 ascertained its growth, and know positively that 

 the parr is not a young salmon of the first year, 

 but a pure trout of the smallest variety, and not 

 unlike a salmon fry in the eighth month of its 

 existence. We also know that up to the begin- 

 ning of its second year the growth of salmon is 



