THE HAUNTS OF SALMON. 241 



they encounter there, such as porpoises and seals, 

 which alarm them in great quantities. However 

 this may be, they remain in the fresh water till 

 the spawning months commence. On the first 

 arrival of the spring salmon from the sea, they are 

 apt to take up their seats in the rear of a skull of 

 kelts, and at this early period they are brown in 

 the back, fat, and in high condition. In the cold 

 months they lie in the deep and easy water ; and 

 as the season advances they draw into the principal 

 rough streams, always lying in places where they 

 can be least easily discovered. They are very 

 fond of a stream above a deep pool, into which 

 they can fall back in case of disturbance. They 

 prefer lying upon even rock, or behind large 

 blocks of stone, particularly such as are of a 

 colour approaching that of themselves. At every 

 swell of the river, unless it is a very trifling one, 

 the fish move upwards nearer the spawning places ; 

 so that no one can reckon upon preserving his 

 particular part of the river, which is the chief 

 reason of the universal destruction of these valu- 

 able animals. Previous to a flood, the fish fre- 

 quently leap out of the water, either for the 

 purpose of filling their air-bladders to make them 

 more buoyant for travelling, or from excitement, 

 or, perhaps, to exercise their powers of ascending 

 heights and cataracts in the course of their 

 journey upwards.' 



