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lights in rather a cold climate. It is to be found upon 

 the northern coast both of Europe and America. But 

 the remarkable purity and moderate temperature of the 

 rivers and seas of this country, neither so warm in sum- 

 mer, nor so cold in winter, as the rivers and seas in the same 

 latitude in other parts, render them more particularly 

 the haunt of the Salmon. We have, at least until within 

 these few years, been accustomed to see the fish chiefly 

 in our rivers ; and, therefore, it is vulgarly regarded as a 

 river fish. But its proper and natural abode is in the 

 ocean and the estuaries on the coasts : though at particular 

 seasons, and when impelled by the various instincts to 

 which it is subject, it leaves the sea for a time, and re- 

 sorts to the fresh waters. 



The most important of these instincts, and it is the 

 one with which, at present, we have to do, is that con- 

 nected with the propagation of the species. The proper 

 spawning place of the salmon, is in the upper parts of the 

 rivers and brooks having alpine sources. And it prefers 

 to all others, a gravelly pebbled bottom, where there are 

 large stones free from every kind of slime. To attain 

 these stations, it leaves the sea, and ascends the rivers 

 with impetuous violence, disregarding the rapids and ca- 

 taracts, and overcoming obstacles almost incredible. When 

 the spawning season is over, it returns to the sea. Some, 

 what later, the young brood comes into life, and, as it gains 

 sufficient strength, it also descends to the sea. 



The fish usually conceive about the end of July, or ear- 

 ly in August, and it is in September that they begin to 

 leave the sea and ascend the rivers. This transit continues 

 during the months of October and November. About 

 the beginning of November the spawning commences, and 

 it continues until towards the close of December. These 



