CHAPTER VII. OBSERVATIONS OF THE SALMON, 

 WITH DIRECTIONS HOW TO FISH 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 stopped by flood-gates or wears, 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 bony gristles 

 grow out of their lower chaps, not unlike a hawk's beak, which 

 hinder their feeding, and in time such fish so left behind, pine 

 away and die. 'Tis observed, that he may live thus one year 

 from the sea ; but he then grows insipid, and tasteless, and 

 loses both his blood and strength, and pines and dies the second 

 year. And 'tis 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. 



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