78 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



his colour when living in the river, should have so 

 decided a one after he was dead, — not bringing back 

 the original dye, but removing the dark tint entirely. 



But to return to my subject. 



It is an undoubted fact that Salmon ascend some 

 rivers much earlier than others. I have rented fisheries 

 both in Tweed and Tay, and to my own knowledge the 

 latter river is a month earlier than the former. The Esk 

 and the Eden both fall into the Solway Firth, and are 

 only separated at their mouths by a sharp point of land; 

 yet, according to the statement of Mr. Howard,* a 

 proprietor and renter of the river Eden, new rish go up 

 that river three months before they ascend the Esk, and 

 the month of February is one of the greatest produce 

 there. The Irthing falls into the Eden, and may be a 

 fourth of its water ; but no Salmon run up it, except 

 in spawning time. Now the waters of the Eden may 

 be presumed to be of a warmer temperature than those 

 of the Esk, which latter is a brawling shallow stream, 

 wider also than the Eden, which is of a deeper and 

 more tranquil nature. 



Snow water is offensive to fish, and they will not 

 ascend a river whilst it is impregnated with it. Setting 

 aside this impediment, and cceteris paribus, I believe 

 the season of all rivers depends upon the temperature 

 of their waters during the winter and spring months 

 Thus the Ness is the forwardest river in Scotland 

 which the following table of monthly captures pro- 

 duced by Mr. Alexander Fraserf will prove. 



* Evidence before Select Committee in 1S25, p. 140. 

 t Ibid. p. 42. 



