THE SALMON 11 



they remain in the fresh water till the spawning 

 months commence. 1 



On the first arrival of the spring salmon from 

 the sea, they are apt to take up their seats in the 

 rear of a scull of kelts ; at this early period they 

 are brown in the back in the Tweed, fat, and in 

 high condition. In the cold months they lie in the 

 deep and easy water ; and as the season advances 

 they draw into the principal rough streams, always 

 lying in places where they can be least easily dis- 

 covered. They are very fond of a stream above a 

 deep pool, into which they can *fall back in case of 

 disturbance. They prefer lying upon even rock, or 

 behind large blocks of stone, particularly such as 

 are of a colour similar to themselves. They are 

 not to be found all over the river like trout, but 

 only in such rough or deep places as I have 

 mentioned ; it is therefore very necessary for a 

 stranger to take out some one with him who is 

 acquainted with the water he means to fish, for 

 there are large continuous portions of almost all 

 salmon rivers where no fish ever take up their seats. 

 It is true that a very practised eye, which is well 

 acquainted with water, needs little assistance ; but 

 there are not many such nice observers. 



At every swell of the river, unless a very trifling 

 one, the fish move upwards nearer the spawning 

 places : so that no one can reckon upon preserving 

 his particular part of the river, which is the chief 



1 A great advance since these pages were written has heen made in 

 scientific knowledge of the habits of salmon. A blue book, entitled 

 Report on Investigations into the Life History of Salmon, has lately (1898) 

 been published under direction of the Scottish Fishery Board, and may 

 be commended to the attention of those interested in the subject ED. 



