HABITS OF SALMON. 157 



mon did not feed in rivers; if so, can it be possible 

 they remain in such a state of abstinence for so 

 many months? 



T/ieoph. We must consider that some other 

 time ; else we shall digress too far from the sub- 

 ject we were upon, I was saying, they come up 

 from the sea for the purpose of spawning ; and the 

 early comers seem to act upon the old maxim, 

 that " the early bird secures the corn ;" for they 

 take plenty of time to look about for the best 

 unoccupied spawning-ground. They come up 

 from the sea during a flood or fresh ; and if they 

 determine to advance beyond the tide-way, * they 

 rest themselves in the first still pool they meet 

 with above it. Below this, it is supposed, they 

 never return during the season; but lie there till 

 another flood. They will then advance to a pool 

 higher up the river (perhaps no higher than that 

 immediately above it), while fresh fish from the 

 sea will mount guard in their stead in the first 

 hole. Thus they advance by degrees with every 

 flood, till they get as high as the nature of the 

 river will permit. But those fish which come up 

 to spawn late, will content themselves with spawn- 

 ing ground nearer to the tide-way. This s their 

 supposed general habit, liable to exceptions of 

 course. However, while the river remains low, they 



* As to this habit see post. 



