48 THE JOLLY ANGLER. 



scale, both in strength and size ; and fish farther out in the 

 stream. The season for catching Salmon is during the 

 spring and summer months; they spawn late in the au- 

 tumn, after which they are covered with spots of a livid 

 hue, and altogether unfit for human food ; during this 

 season an excrescence, or bone, forms on the upper part of 

 the point of the lower jaw of the male, about as big round 

 'as your finger's-end; this sometimes grows nearly through 

 the upper jaw, and prevents the mouth from shutting 

 close. The Salmon commonly grows to 251bs. in weight, 

 and sometimes much larger. Many years ago the Thames 

 Salmon were high in estimation, so much so that I sup- 

 pose they caught them all for I could never see them 

 anywhere but in those books that treat on the subject. 

 Salter says, "They are fished for in the Thames with a 

 muscle." Where, and when! I think that would be a fine 

 representation of " Patience in a punt." For my own 

 part I must confess I have never taken any except by such 

 disreputable means as described in the early part of this 

 work (see *' River Lea"), and consequently will not at- 

 tempt to teach others what I do not understand; but will 

 remain content with describing the most approved sort of 

 tackle for the purpose, under the head of "Fly Fishing;" 

 they likewise spin a Bleak, the same as described under the 

 head of "Spinning a Minnow," with this exception the 

 hooks large in proportion to the bait, and the traces of 

 twisted gut instead of single. When they try a worm, they 

 use a No. 2 hook, and one or two large marsh or lob- 

 worms ; this bait succeeds best when the water is coloured 

 after a little rain. Should any of my readers take a trip 

 to the North of England, I would recommend them to 

 purchase the "Driffield Angler;" that is generally allowed 

 to be the best practical work on Salmon-fishing. 



Having now described all the fish treated of in this work, 

 to refresh the reader's memory, I will give a Calendar, 

 that he may refer to before he starts on a fishing excur- 

 sion, by which means he will be better able to judge how 

 to equip himself in the most suitable way, according to 

 the season, and the circumstances in which he may be 

 placed. 



