72 SALMON; TROUT; SMELT. 



before they arrive at their full growth. Hence there is much 

 difficulty in determining their species; which is increased by 

 the circumstance, that the male, in many instances, appears to 

 be capable of propagation long before arriving at its full growth. 

 The Salmon of our own rivers is one of the largest of the whole 

 family ; but in consequence of the eagerness with which it is 

 pursued by fishermen, it does not often attain its -full size in this 

 country. Enormous specimens, however, are now and then 

 captured ; a weight of 40 Ibs. does not seem very uncommon ; 

 and in 1821, a specimen was exhibited in London, weighing 

 83 Ibs. The usual time at which the Salmon leaves the sea, is 

 the autumn ; it remains in the rivers during the winter ; and 

 returns to the sea, after having deposited the spawn, in the 

 spring. The young fry, termed Smalts, are carried down to the 

 sea in the montHa. of April and May. In some rivers, however, 

 they do not make their ascent until the winter ; and in others 

 they even delay it until the spring. These variations appear to 

 depend upon differences of temperature in the rivers themselves ; 

 since, when these are very cold, the fish avoid pass-ing the win- 

 ter in them. Before depositing its spawn, the Salmon makes a 

 furrow with its nose in the gravelly bed of the river; and its 

 eggs, when deposited in this, are carefully covered up. The 

 common Trout is entirely a fresh-water fish, delighting in rivers 

 which have a rapid current, and abounding also in many stream- 

 fed lakes ; it lurks during the day in the deep pools, under the 

 shadow of large stones, or under precipitous banks ; and becomes 

 active towards evening, when it begins eagerly to pursue its 

 prey, which seems to consist especially of Insects and aquatic 

 Larvse, and of small Crustacea, but also of small fishes, and 

 the ova of the larger ones. The Char is considered as having 

 the most delicate flavour of any of the fishes of this family ; it is 

 a lake fish, and is not very common in this country. The Smelt 

 resembles the Salmon in its habits, but is much smaller ; it has 

 been found, however, to thrive very well when confined to fresh 

 water. Several other genera exist in various parts of the world ; 

 some of them approach other families in their general structure 

 and are exclusively marine in their habits. A few curious ma- 



