1 66 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



Next I shall tell you that though they make 

 very hard shift to get out of the fresh rivers into 

 the sea, yet they will make harder shift to get out 

 of the salt into the fresh rivers, to spawn or possess 

 the pleasures that they have formerly found in them, 

 to which end they will force themselves through 

 flood-gates or over weirs or hedges or stops in 

 the water, even to a height beyond common be- 

 lief. Gesner speaks of such places as are known 

 to be above eight feet high above water. And 

 our Camden mentions in his " Britannia " the like 

 wonder to be in Pembrokeshire, where the river 

 Tivy falls into the sea ; and that the fall is so down- 

 right and so high that the people stand and won- 

 der at the strength and sleight by which they see 

 the salmon use to get out of the sea into the said 

 river ; and the manner and height of the place is so 

 notable that it is known far by the name of the 

 salmon-leap. Concerning which take this also out 

 of Michael Drayton, my honest old friend, as he 

 tells it you in his " Polyolbion " : 



ft And when the salmon seeks a fresher stream to find, 

 Which hither from the sea comes yearly by his kind, 

 As he towards season grows, and stems the watery tract 

 Where Tivy, falling down, makes an high cataract, 

 Forced by the rising rocks that there her course oppose, 

 As though within her bounds they meant her to inclose, 

 Here, when the laboring fish does at the foot arrive, 

 And finds that by his strength he does but vainly strive, 

 His tail takes in his mouth, and bending like a bow 

 That 's to full compass drawn, aloft himself doth throw, 

 Then springing at his height, as doth a little wand 

 That, bended end to end, and started from man's hand, 



