78 TREATISE ON FLY-FISHING. 



sea, and go up the Tweed on the Saturday night, 

 at twelve o'clock, (after which time no nets are 

 worked till the sabbath is passed) are found 

 and taken on the following Monday, near St. 

 BoswelPs, a distance, as the river winds, of about 

 forty miles. When the strength of the current is 

 considered, and also the sinuous course a fish 

 must take, in order to avoid the strong rapids, 

 this power of swimming is most extraordinary." 



As salmon are supposed to enter a river merely 

 for the purpose of spawning, and as that process 

 does not take place till September, one cannot 

 well account for their appearing in some rivers so 

 early as February, and March, seeing that they 

 lose in weight and condition during their con- 

 tinuance in fresh water. Some suppose it is to 

 get rid of the sea louse, but this supposition must 

 be set aside, when it is known that this insect 

 adheres only to a portion of the newly run fish, 

 which are in the best condition. 1 think it more 

 probable they are driven from the coasts near the 



