PASSAGE TO THE SEA. 37 



food, and used to be sold by the fishermen for about 

 half a crown the stone, Dutch weight : they were after- 

 wards salted. Trifling as this price is, the fishermen in 

 the upper parts of the Tweed formerly made up the 

 chief part of their rent in this manner ; for there is no 

 law against killing foul fish, except in close time. 



I have now given a brief account of the Salmon, from 

 his first entry into fresh water till he has spawned. It 

 remains only to trace him back to the sea. 



When the spawning is finished, the fish become very 

 lank and weak, and fall into deep easy water, where 

 they have not to contend with the current : here, after 

 a time, their strength is recruited, when, as the spring 

 advances, the strongest fish leave the depths and draw 

 into the streams. At this time they become clear in 

 colour, and are comparatively well-made; but their flesh 

 is soft, and without flavour. They now move down the 

 river by degrees, in their passage to the sea. When they 

 arrive in the deep pools where the water runs evenly, 

 they lie in sculls, and take a rest for some days ; here 

 they are caught in great quantities by anglers, as they 

 take the fly and other baits freely. March is usually 

 the best month for this sport, — if, indeed, it can be called 

 sport to kill an animal that is worth a mere trifle, and 

 resists but little. If there are freshes, the Kelts (for 

 so the females that have spawned are called) quit the 

 Tweed before the month of May, and the Kippers, or 

 male fish, at the same time. Very many do so in 

 March and April, according to the time that they 

 have spawned and regained their powers. In going- 

 down wards they are taken about Kelso, or at least 

 3 



