32 HINTS ON ANGLING. 



dexterity, the test of his professional proficiency, the 

 legitimate object of his loftiest aspirations; affording an 

 undeniable proof of his fitness to take his stand amongst 

 the most accomplished adepts of this interesting craft. 



Much has been written, especially of late years, on the 

 nature, habits, instinct, etc., of the salmon much that is 

 amusing much that is not a little fanciful and much that 

 is altogether wide of the mark. 



Young and enthusiastic anglers are, in some degree, 

 like young and inexperienced travellers and navigators; 

 they are constantly seeing something new, perpetually 

 encountering marvels and prodigies. Their powers of 

 generalising are, as yet, but feeble and in the bud, and 

 fancy or wild conjecture too often usurp the place of 

 reason and fact. In the following observations, we shall 

 confine ourselves to those every-day appearances connected 

 with the nature and peculiarities of the salmon, which 

 present themselves to the attention of all intelligent 

 anglers of this valuable and interesting fish; and carefully 

 avoid those refined speculations and theories, which belong 

 more properly to the science of natural history, than 

 to the art of angling. 



The salmon spawns generally in the months of Septem- 

 ber and October ; but there is a difference in this respect, 

 in different rivers. This fact has been fully verified in 

 Parliamentary reports, framed with reference to projected 

 laws for the preservation of this kind offish. It is during 

 this particular season of the year, that the salmon 

 are to be seen passing up the rivers in enormous 

 shoals, and leaping over every obstacle which' lies across 

 their path. The extraordinary power and agility the fish 

 display in these remarkable leaps, have long been the 

 wonder of the naturalist, and a theme of admiration to 



