THE ANGLER'S SOUVENIR. 



higher parts of the river, and now enter its smaller 

 subsidiary streams, gradually ascending towards 

 their sources, during the months of August, Sep- 

 tember, and October, as floods afford them oppor- 

 tunity of passing the falls, weirs, and shallows. 

 Should the weather be frosty, the early fish com- 

 monly begin spawning in November, though the 

 greater number spawn in December and January. 

 Grilse, the young of the salmon, which descend 

 as smouts or salmon-fry from the spawning ground 

 to the sea in April and May, return to the rivers 

 about the middle of June ; and again descend to 

 the sea in September. Grilse, which on their first 

 appearance weigh from two to four pounds, and 

 increase during their abode in fresh water to six 

 or seven, take a smaller kind of salmon- fly, dressed 

 on a hook, No. 4, 5, or 6, according to the state of 

 the water. They may also be angled for with lob- 

 worms, a minnow, or a par's tail. 



Salmon, in ascending a river, mostly keep in the 

 middle of the stream, avoiding the shore, and 

 seldom making any stay in pools or weils which 

 are much shaded either with steep rocky banks 

 or trees. They are most likely to be found a 

 little below weirs and falls, and towards the head 

 of large pools. As salmon never, or at least very 

 rarely, rise at the fly when the water is clear and 

 unruffled, the angler need not be apprehensive of 

 disturbing them by wading; for when the water 

 is in such a state as to afford him the greatest 



