THE SALMON. 675 



The Salmon is a migratory fish, annually leaving the sea, its proper 

 residence, and proceeding for many miles up rivers for the purpose of 

 depositing its spawn. This duty having been accomplished, it returns 

 to the sea in the spring. The perseverance of this fish in working its 

 way up the stream is perfectly wonderful. No stream is rapid enough 

 to daunt it, nor is 

 it even checked 

 by falls. These 

 it surmounts by 

 springing out of 

 the water, fairly 

 passing over the 

 fall. Heights of - 

 i'ourteen or fif- 

 teen feet are con- 

 stantly leaped by f: 

 this powerful fish, l^ 

 and when it has ^ 

 arrived at the 

 higher and shal- 

 lower parts of the 

 river it scoops fur- 

 rows in the grav- ^^^ ^^^'^^^ ^^''^''' ^''^''^- 



elly bottom, and there deposits its spawn. The young, called " fry," 

 are hatched about March, and immediately commence their retreat to 

 the sea. By the end of May the young Salmon, now called " smolts," 

 have almost entirely deserted the rivers, and in June not one is to be 

 found in fresh water. Small Salmon weighing less than two pounds 

 are termed "salmon peel;" all above that weight are called "grilse." 



The havoc wrought among Salmon by foes of every description is so 

 enormous that, notwithstanding the great fecundity of the fish, it is a 

 matter of surprise that so many escape destruction ; for, although the 

 fish are preserved from their human foes by many stringent regulations, 

 yet other foes — such as otters, who devour the large fish, and other fish, 

 who devour the spawn — have but little respect for laws and regulations. 



While in the rivers multitudes of Salmon are annually caught, 

 usually by stake nets, which are capable of confining an immense 

 number of fish at one time. Salmon-spearing is a favorite amuse- 

 ment. This animated and exciting sport is usually carried on by 

 torchlight. The torches, when held close to the surface of the water, 

 illumine the depths of the river, and render every fish within their in- 

 fluence perfectly visible. The watchful spearman, guided by slight 

 indications bearing no meaning to an unpractised eye, darts his un- 

 erring spear, and brings up in triumph the glittering captive, writhing 



