AUTUXS SALMON-FISSING. 25 



every sport or pastime has its unwritten laws wliicli the 

 amateur (in the literal meaning of the word) loves to 

 respect, and to him a measure to prohibit the capture 

 of ill-conditioned unspawned fish would be welcome, 

 but inasmuch as no particular stage through which they 

 pass to this end can be readily defined, legislature can- 

 not intervene beyond fixing the close time. 



With the kelt, of course, it is different, as his con- 

 dition is apparent to the practised eye or even hand, 

 although to novices a well-mended one may cause some 

 hesitation, when he first leaves the water. 



It is unfortunate that towards the end of the angling- 

 season upon some rivers hen fish are caught in far greater 

 numbers than the cocks ; to all appearances, judging 

 from the rising or jumping fish, there are more hes than 

 she-fish in the water, but the latter take more freely and 

 are in much better condition, frequenting right up to 

 the close of the season the swiftly-running streams 

 which at the commencement of another season will be 

 the home of the spring fish. 



Of course at this season of the year the fresh-run 

 she-fish, although as bright as a shilling, are what is 

 known by the term " full-bellied"; yet in accordance 

 with our experience their condition does not handicap 

 them in their fight with the angler — in fact we have 

 never had better sport than with many fresh-run 

 autumn fish that have fallen to our share. 



The he-fish would appear to run up the rivers in the 

 autumn rather earlier than the she-fish ; and having 



