SALMON SPAWNING. 233 



as September, and continue doing so through the 

 winter months ; the chief ones being December, 

 January, and February. A few remain on the 

 spawning grounds ; and Mr. Scrope says he has 

 caught full 4 roeners,' as they are called, in the 

 month of May in the Tweed. 



6 Salmon,' I have recently written in a note to 

 a new edition of 4 The Complete Angler,' ' never 

 deposit their spawn in deep or still water. If 

 they did, it would not be vivified. To vivify 

 salmon ova impregnated by the milt, the combined 

 influence of running water, atmospheric and solar 

 action, are necessary. Hence Nature directs the 

 salmon to spawn in shallows, or the fords, as they 

 are called, and even to run up narrow, shallow, 

 rapid brooks, tributaries to the larger salmon 

 rivers, to do so. The female chooses a mate, who 

 must make good her selection by fighting for it ; 

 and in these salmon onslaughts the trite saying, 

 " None but the brave deserve the fair," is fully 

 verified. The male fish that remains in victorious 

 possession of his aquatic bride, proceeds with her 

 to make choice of the marital bed, having driven 

 from it all intruders. This bed is placed in a 

 shallow part of the river, and consists of gravel 

 and sand. Having chosen it, it is necessary to 

 make it. I cannot tell whether it is the gentle- 

 man or lady that commences the operation first, 

 which is done by one or the other darting its head 



