THE FOURTH DAY continued 

 The Salmon 



CHAPTER VII 



PISCATOR 



THE Salmon is accounted the King of freshwater 

 fish ; and is ever bred in rivers relating to the sea, 

 yet so high, or far from it, as admits of no tincture 

 of salt, or brackishness. He is said to breed or cast 

 his spawn, in most rivers, in the month of August : 

 some say, that then they dig a hole or grave in a 

 safe place in the gravel, and there place their eggs 

 or spawn, after the melter has done his natural 

 office, and then hide it most cunningly, and cover 

 it over with gravel and stones ; and then leave it to 

 their Creator's protection, who, by a gentle heat 

 which he infuses into that cold element, makes it 

 brood, and beget life in the spawn, and to become 

 Samlets early in the spring next following. 



The Salmons having spent their appointed time, 

 and done this natural duty in the fresh waters, they 

 then haste to the sea before winter, both the melter 

 and spawner ; but if they be stopt by flood-gates 

 or weirs, or lost in the fresh waters, then those so 

 left behind by degrees grow sick and lean, and un- 

 seasonable, and kipper, that is to say, have bony 

 H 113 



