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CHAPTER V. 



AUTUMN SALMON-FISHINO. 



Spring fishing, there can be no doubt, is held in 

 higher esteem than back-end or autumn fishing, and 

 generally most anglers will say rightly so, although we 

 do not think the argument is so one-sided as many would 

 have us believe, as we have landed many and many a 

 plucky autumn fish after having afforded as fine sport 

 as any spring fish we have ever grassed, and unfortu- 

 nately we must admit that many have succeeded by 

 their struggles in either making escape or breaking 

 us. 



Yet, generally speaking, the spring fish must be con- 

 sidered superior for sporting and kitchen purposes to 

 their later running brethren, for the simple reason that 

 they, ascending the rivers in the early months of the 

 year, leave the sea with their spawn in a much less 

 developed state than those running up in the autumn ; 

 the spawn also in the initial stages advances more slowly 

 towards ripeness, and is further retarded by the lower 

 temperature of the water in early months, so the spring 

 fish naturally retain the condition in which they enter 



