THE COMMON SALMON. 31 



the cold months they lie in the deep and easy water ; 

 and as the season advances they draw into the princi- 

 pal rough streams, always lying in places where they 

 can be least easily discovered. 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 

 reason of the universal destruction of these valuable 

 animals. Previous to a flood, the fish frequently leap 

 out of the water, either for the purpose of filling their 

 air-bladder to make them more buoyant for travelling, 

 or from excitement, or, perhaps, to exercise their 

 powers of ascending heights and cataracts in the 

 course of their journey upwards. Of the nature of 

 these spates, or floods, I will speak hereafter. 



That Salmon will leap a great height I have read, 

 and heard asserted continually; but even the subdued 



