SALMON-FISHERY OF SCOTLAND. 129 



which running a mile in fresh water would make in the 

 quality of the fish so clearly, that he could at once pick such a 

 salmon out of 500 head, even though he had entered a water that 

 was quite to his taste. We wonder how Mr Steavenson dis- 

 covered ce 'beau secret. We suspect he must have found it from 

 the old rascal of a seal who misled Mr Halliday for the High- 

 landers believe that the fallen spirits have been sent into seals ; 

 and certainly it required something more than human or, 

 as our neighbours would say, il fallait etre un peu plus que 

 diablc to have made the discovery ; which, au reste, was much 

 of a piece with those of Messrs Johnstone and Co., relative to 

 the movements of the fish under water, as stated in the Com- 

 mittee. 



Mr Steavenson further remarks, that there cannot be a doubt 

 that salmon spawn in the sea. Did the seal tell him this also? 

 Perhaps, being a great sportsman, he has met with some wild 

 ducks that build their nests in trees, while others make their 

 nests on the ground, and has sagely concluded from thence 

 that some salmon spawn in fresh waters, and others in the sea. 

 We hope, however, that Mr George Hogarth, who has immor- 

 talised himself by rearing fry in a bottle, will convince him 

 that he is mistaken ; for it were a pity that so great a 

 naturalist, and so accomplished a salmon-fisher, should con- 

 tinue in error : but such is the lot of poor human nature ; the 

 very greatest minds are sometimes mistaken. 



The Committee, with their usual wisdom, further ask this 

 witness, 



" Do you consider it to be the habit of salmon to seek the rivers 

 during the summer months, or does any considerable proportion 

 remain in the sea T 1 



The proper answer to this question, we think, would be 

 that salmon seek the rivers during the summer months is 

 proved by the fact that they are daily caught there by the 

 river fishers ; whether any considerable portion, or what pro- 

 portion, of them remain in the sea, it is impossible I can know. 

 But Mr Steavenson replies, 



"I am rather of opinion that the greatest proportion of them 

 remain constantly in the sea." 



I 



