THE SALMON AND ITS MIGRATIONS 177 



Salmon, during their sojourn in the sea, travel 

 only during day time. This statement is based 

 upon tne fact that out of the hundreds of nets set 

 along the sea shore, no salmon are ever taken in 

 them at night, unless perhaps an odd fish which 

 happens to be disturbed near a net. Years ago 

 when spearing was allowed in unlicensed waters, 

 I have often observed that we would find the 

 salmon lying perfectly still on or near the bottom 

 and generally in the vicinity of rocks or patches 

 of sea weed ; where they would be very hard to 

 distinguish from the surroundings. By the use 

 of artificial light, some few fish can be netted at 

 night. We had occasion to cut down some trees 

 one year on a point near one of our nets. Not 

 wishing to run any risks of starting a fire in the 

 woods, for it was then in June, we piled the brush 

 on the rocks, and lighted the fire at night, when 

 there was little wind. It made quite a blaze. 

 Early the next morning on visiting our net, we 

 found, very much to our surprise, six or seven 

 salmon in it. On another occasion the lighthouse 

 keeper of Pointe des Monts, Mr. V. Fafard, told 

 me he had observed the same thing occur in a net 

 which he had set in the immediate vicinity of the 

 lighthouse. This was especially the case on very 

 dark nights. 



Although capable, when necessary, of a very 

 high rate of speed in swimming, salmon are, as a 

 rule, very slow in their rate of travel; the move- 



