THE SALMON. 171 



and those especially, who, residing on the Susqnehanna 

 and the southern rivers generally, fancy that they possess 

 the salmon, in the glass-eye, or pike-perch, I shall 

 proceed to insert a brief description of this beautiful 

 glory of the rivers of all northern latitudes, alike on the 

 Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and on the northern seas of 

 Europe. 



The salmon, fresh run from the sea, on his first 

 entrance into the estuaries of the fresh rivers, up which 

 he runs to deposit his spawn of which more anon is 

 perhaps the most perfect in shape of all animals, and the 

 most exquisite model of marine architecture in existence. 



The proportions of one in perfect condition, and a 

 large fish, are thus given by Sir Humphrey Davy, him- 

 self an eminent and eager fly-fislier, as well as a great 

 naturalist and philosopher the length 38 J inches the 

 circumference 21 inches, and the weight 22 Ibs. 



The head is small and sharpened, the body thence 

 increasing gradually to about two-fifths of its length, at 

 which point its girth is the greatest, with lines as shapely 

 and a curvature as evenly and gracefully swelling as 

 those of the entrance of the fleetest ship . that ever 

 walked the waters. Thence aftward, like the run of the 

 same vessel, it tapers far more rapidly and sharply, the 

 narrowest point being af four-fifths of its whole length, 

 beyond which its broad, flat, deeply forked tail, the 

 rudder at once and propeller of this wonderful animated 

 machine, expands to a width all but equal to that of the 



