170 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



Pennell, not to be behind in curious tales, also tells the following r 

 " Two young ladies residing in the neighbourhood of Thornhill, were 

 recently walking by the bank of the river Nith, when they saw a large 

 salmon almost stranded in a shallow creek ; they walked into the water 

 and succeeded in driving the fish up a sort of cul de sac, from which there 

 was no escape, and were stooping to secure it, when it sprang completely 

 over their heads, and falling on dry land was captured and carried home 

 in triumph." For this story Mr. Pennell vouches, he having had it 

 direct from the two principal performers. 



In order to facilitate the upward migration of these fish, it is satisfac- 

 tory to know that salmon ladders are being and have been erected on 

 a great many hitherto almost impassable streams, and thanks to this step 

 many of such rivers are now in a fair way of becoming very productive 

 of this splendid fish. 



Having reached suitable spots in the higher parts of the river the 

 female commences to make her nest. In this operation she is assisted by 

 a male fish. The character of the site of operations is usually gravelly, 

 and the more disintegrated it is the better. The neighbourhood of the 

 spot is usually also occupied by several other pairs of fish, and it is 

 common to observe salmon trout and the youthful male parrs present at 

 the time the adult fish are about to transact their domestic business. 

 I was at a loss for a long time to understand what purpose was served 

 by these intrusive and pugnacious little fish, but their constant and 

 close attendance at last led me to believe that they afforded protec- 

 tion to Mrs. Sahno Salar whilst her lord and master was engaged in 

 driving off importunate rivals. The parrs also possess the power of 

 impregnating the ova, and constantly exercise it. It may be mentioned 

 that the female parrs can lay no eggs. It seems absolutely necessary 

 that she should descend to the sea before her maternity is possible. 



The terrific combats which constantly take place between the male fish 

 and other males equally amorous often assume a serious character for the 

 devoted spouse. It not unfrequently happens that, so prolonged has 

 been the strife and so sanguinary the result, that his strength only 

 enables him to fecundate the ova and he then expires. During these 

 fierce onslaughts the female calmly but vigorously goes on with the 

 maternal business she is upon, and seemingly it matters little to her 

 which of her knights is triumphant, an instinct appearing to inform her 

 that in no case will her labour be in vain, for either an adult male or a 

 parr will perform the essential impregnation for a surety. Apropos of this 

 subject, I have recently come across an excellent account of a salmon 

 fight, which I extract from the " Zoologist " of the year 1847, page 1650, 

 and, as it so graphically describes what I have often witnessed, I repro- 



