THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 205 



CHAPTER VII. 



Observations of the SALMON ; with Directions how 

 tojish for him. 



PISCATOR. 



THE Salmon is accounted the king of fresh-water 

 fish; and is ever bred in rivers relating- to the sea, 

 yet so high, or far from it, as admits of no tincture 

 of salt, or brackish ness. He is said to breed or cast 

 his spawn, in most rivers, in the month of August* : 

 some say, that then they dig a hole or grave in a 

 safe place in the gravel ; and there place their eggs 

 or spawn, after the - melter has done his natural 

 office ; and then hide it most cunningly, and cover 

 it over with gravel and stones ; and then leave it to 

 their Creator's protection, who, by a gentle heat 

 which he infuses into that cold element, makes it 

 brood, and beget life in the spawn, and to become 

 Samlets early in the spring next following. 



The Salmons having spent their appointed time, 

 and done this natural duty in the fresh waters, 

 they then haste to the sea before winter, both the 

 melter and spawner: but if they be stopt by flood- 

 gates or weirs, or lost in the fresh waters, then those 

 so left behind, by degrees grow sick and lean, and 

 unseasonable, and kipper, that is to say, have boney 

 gristles grow out of their lower chaps, not unlike 

 a hawk's beak, which hinders their feeding ; and, 

 in time, such fish so left behind pine away and die. 

 It is observed, That he may live thus, one year, from 

 the sea : but he then grows insipid and tasteless, and 



* Their usual time of spawning, is about the beginning of September ; 

 but it i said, that thoie in the Severn spawn in May. 



