THE SALMON. 



time as the salmon fry, which are carried down in 

 May to the sea, have had time to grow sufficiently 

 in size and strength to enable them to ascend 

 their native stream. In confirmation of the truth 

 of this circumstance, many fishermen have marked 

 smouts, upon their journeying to the sea, and on 

 their return as gilses knew them perfectly by the 

 marks they had put upon them : nay more, these 

 even remained upon some when they were caught 

 after becoming salmon. 



In all the tribe of migratory animals, whether of 

 the air or of the water, few or none exhibit a more 

 wonderful instinct than that of the salmon. 



Scarcely have they enjoyed the light of the sun, 

 when, without a guide or pilot, or parent to protect 

 them, they undertake a journ'ey often of some hun- 

 dred miles, to visit an element with which they are 

 totally unacquainted. They remain in the sea but 

 for a short time, then return, and through toils and 

 dangers ascend the very streams which they de- 

 scended, in order to spawn on the spot which gave 

 them birth. Those bred in the Linth are known to 

 take their course up the Rhine, from that river into 

 the Aar, then through the Lake of Zurich, and so 

 again into their native stream. They effect their 

 passage up the Thames, a considerable way above 

 London, although annoyed by the keels and cables 

 of various craft, the continual plying of oars, and all 

 the filth and garbage of that overgrown metropolis. 

 In like manner, over cascades, through many wind- 

 ings, rapid rivers, and extensive lakes, they push up 

 into the very interior parts of North America, in or- 



