SALMON. 1 1 



of kelts ; at this early period they are brown in the back 

 in the Tweed, fat, and in high condition. In the cold 

 months they lie in the deep and easy water ; and as the 

 season advances they draw into the principal rough 

 streams, always lying in places where they can be least 

 easily discovered. They are very fond of a stream above 

 a deep pool, into which they can fall back in case of 

 disturbance. They prefer lying upon even rock, or 

 behind large blocks of stone, particularly such as are of 

 a colour similar to themselves. They are not to be found 

 all over the river like Trout, but only in such rough or 

 deep places as I have mentioned ; it is therefore very 

 necessary for a stranger to take out some one with him 

 who is acquainted with the water he means to fish, for 

 there are large continuous portions of almost all salmon 

 rivers where no fish ever take up their seats. It is true 

 that a very practised eye, which is well acquainted with 

 water, needs little assistance ; but there are not many 

 such nice observers. 



At every swell of the river, unless a very trifling one, 

 the fish move upwards nearer the spawning places : so 

 that no one can reckon upon preserving his particular 

 part of the river, which is the chief reason of the uni- 

 versal destruction of these valuable animals. Previous 

 to a flood, the fish frequently leap out of the water, either 

 for the purpose of filling their air-bladder to make them 

 more buoyant for travelling, or from excitement, or, 

 perhaps, to exercise their powers of ascending heights 

 and cataracts in the course of their journey upwards. 

 Of the nature of these spates, or floods, I will speak 

 hereafter. 



