206 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART I. 



loses both his blood and strength ; and pines and dies 

 the second year. And it is noted, That those little 

 Salmons called Skeggers, which abound in many 

 rivers relating to the sea, are bred by such sick 

 Salmons that might not go to the sea ; and, that 

 though they abound, yet they never thrive to any 

 considerable bigness. 



But if the old Salmon gets to the sea, then that 

 gristle which shews him to be kipper, wears away; 

 or, is cast off, as the eagle is said to cast his bill ; 

 and he recovers his strength ; and comes next sum- 

 mer to the same river, if it be possible, to enjoy 

 the former pleasures that there possesthim*; for, as 

 one has wittily observed, he has like some persons 

 of honour and riches, which have both their winter 

 and summer-houses the fresh rivers for summer, 

 and the salt water for winter, to spend his life in ; 

 which is not, as Sir Francis Bacon hath observed 

 in his History of Life and Death, above ten years. 

 And it is to be observed, that though the Salmon 

 does grow big in the sea, yet he grows not fat but 

 in fresh rivers; and it is observed, that the farther 

 they get from the sea, they be both the fatter and 

 better. 



Next, I shall tell you, That though they make 

 very hard shift to get out of the fresh rivers into 

 the sea ; yet they will make harder shift to get, 

 out of the salt, into the fresh rivers, to spawn, or 

 possess the pleasures that they have formerly found 



* The migration of the Salmon, and divers other sorts of fishes. 

 Is analogous to that of birds: and Mr. Ray confirms Walton's as- 

 sertion by saying, that " Salmon will yearly ascend up a river four 

 " or five hundred miles; only to cast their spawn, and secure it in 

 " banks of sand till the young be hatched and excluded; and then 

 " return to sea again." Wisdom of Cod manifested in the Works of the 

 Creation^ ISO. 



It may not be improper here to take notice, that in this, and several 

 other parts of the book, the facts related by the Author do most 

 remarkably coincide with later discoveries of the most diligent and 

 sagacious naturalist*; a circumstance that must add great weight to- 

 all his assertions. 



