THE TRUE FISHES. 



comes for that strange return to the scenes of their youth : it is literal) 

 going home to die. Up the rivers they come until, at last, the b< 

 tide is reached, and here they stop for awhile and play aboi 

 boundary line between the salt water and the fresh. At last, tl 

 is crossed, and with this passage of the Rubicon a change occurs in tl 

 habits. They no longer eat. "They begin." as Mr. Stone ex] 

 journey which is a long fast, and ends only in death. It' they could 

 credited with a knowledge of what lies before them, none of the ra 

 of Christendom could claim greater merit than these devoted 

 march on unflinchingly to inevitable death." 



They press on in the most persevering manner toward- the head-M 

 and nothing can stop them except some insurmountable obstacle, liki 

 or high dam. On and on they go to the head-water- of the river-, wi. 

 the water is so shallow that it dues not cover their backs, until at La£ 

 suitable place is found for the eggs. Now a hole is dug in the gravel, the 

 spawn placed in it, and the whole carefully covered up by the aid of the 

 noses and tails of the parent fish. These now seem to think their life-work 

 is done. In the Atlantic species after spawning there is a return t<> tin- 

 sea, but not so here; "they hover about the vicinity of their spawn 

 ground, growing weaker, more emaciated, and diseased every day. till d< 

 comes to their relief." It must be said that possibly some which sp 

 near the sea may return, but those which go some distance never do. 



What an interesting, what a surprising, history this is ! What can 

 the nature of the instinct that impels these fishes t< - the fresh water 

 at such a time ? We may call it instinct, but this mean- nothi Insl i 



is but a word used to express or conceal our ignorance. A- - >on - 

 salt water is left behind, the flesh begins to deteriorate, and in a few v. 

 it is useless for food, and after spawning "their downward 1 - 

 rapid. They grow less comely in appearance, more slimy to the 

 more unsymmetrical in form; parasites collect by thousands in t 

 and under their fins; the tails and fins fray off; a white and 

 fungus gathers over all parts of them, frequently destroying thei 

 and swarms of suckers — the carrion birds among nshes— wa 

 them to feed upon their lifeless bodies when they die. I'm- -.me 

 and unknown reason the salmon in the higher tributaries do Q , 

 back to the salt water which would cleanse their bodies 

 and fungus, and restore their appetite, and with it the beall 

 but they linger, with strange indifference to their late, around 

 where they have deposited their eggs, waiting patiently for tl. 

 sible relief from their wretchedness, which is death." U ha 

 this for the preacher ! 



