OBSERVATIONS OF THE SALMON 



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 Summer to the same river, if it be possible, to 

 enjoy the former pleasures that there possessed him ; 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 

 in them : to which end, they will force themselves through 

 flood-gates, or over wears, or hedges, or stops in the water, 

 even to a height beyond common belief. Gesner speaks of such 

 places as are known to be above eight feet high above water. 

 And our Camden mentions in his ' Britannia ' the like wonder 

 to be in Pembrokeshire, where the river Tivy falls into the sea, 

 and that the fall is so down-right, and so high, that the people 

 stand and wonder at the strength and sleight by which they 

 see the 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 wat'ry tract 

 Where Tivy falling down, makes an high cataract, 

 Forc'd 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 ; 



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