AMEEICAN SALMON. 291 



and Fraser rivers abounded with this fish in such num- 

 bers as often to pollute the air with the decomposition of 

 the countless thousands of dead that were washed up on 

 their margins. 



At the present date those of Fraser river are justly 

 famous. There are five species, and they make their way 

 up the river for 1,000 miles. The silver salmon begins 

 to arrive in March or early in April, and lasts till the end 

 of June. Their weight is from four to twenty-five pounds, 

 but they have been caught weighing over seventy. The 

 second kind are caught from June to August, and are 

 considered the finest. Their average size is only five or 

 six pounds. The third, coming in August, average seven 

 pounds, and are an excellent fish. The noan or humpback 

 salmon comes every second year, lasting from August till 

 winter, weighing from six to fourteen pounds. The hook- 

 bill arrives in September and remains till winter, weighing 

 from twelve to fifteen and even forty-five pounds. Salmon 

 is sold at Victoria at five cents a pound, and there appears 

 to be no limit to the supply. 



However, one thing I must not forget to mention is that, 

 although the trout of British Columbia, Oregon, and 

 California rise freely to the fly, the salmon of the Pacific 

 do not, a circumstance to be regretted by all lovers of the 

 lithesome rod. 



Halifax reader, have you ever been in Halifax ? Many 

 places are less to be admired and less agreeable to live in, 

 although I have heard sailors quote the saying, in Old 

 England, "Deliver us from Hell, Hull, and Halifax." 

 Why this condemnation I know not. For my part, I have 



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