"The Compleat <Angler 



salmon use to get out of the sea into the said river ; and the manner 

 and height of the place is so notable, that it is known, far, by the 

 name of the "Salmon-leap." Concerning which, take this also out 

 of Michael Drayton, my honest old friend, as he tells it you in his 

 Polyolbion : 



And when the salmon seeks a fresher stream to find, 

 Which hither from the sea comes yearly by his kind; 

 As he towards season grows, and stems the wafry tract 

 Where Tivy falling down, makes a high cataract, 

 Forced by the rising rocks that there her course oppose, 

 As though within her bounds they meant her to inclose; 

 Here, when the labouring fish does at the foot arrive, 

 And finds that by his strength he does but vainly strive, 

 His tail takes in his mouth, and, bending like a bow, 

 That's to full compass drawn, aloft himself doth throw ; 

 Then springing at his height, as doth a little wand 

 That, bended end to end, and started from man's hand, 

 Far oft itself doth cast ; so does the salmon vault : 

 And if at first he fail, his second summersault 

 He instantly essays; and from his nimble ring, 

 Still yerking, never leaves until himself he fling 

 Above the opposing stream 



This Michael Drayton tells you of this leap or summersault of the 

 salmon. 



And next I shall tell you, that it is observed by Gesner and others, 

 that there is no better salmon than in England ; and that though 

 some of our northern counties have as fat and as large as the river 

 Thames, yet none are of so excellent a taste. 



And as I have told you that Sir Francis Bacon observes, the age 

 of a salmon exceeds not ten years ; so let me next tell you, that his 

 growth is very sudden ; it is said, that after he is got into the sea, he 

 becomes from a samlet not so big as a gudgeon, to be a salmon, in as 

 short a time as a gosling becomes to be a goose. Much of this has 

 been observed by tying a ribbon, or some known tape or thread, in 

 the tail of some young salmons, which have been taken in weirs as 



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