PAIRING OF SALMON. 61 



as it might be easily, put a stop to. It should 

 also be recollected that every salmon does and must 

 in the spawning season go high up the rivers to 

 spawn, therefore every salmon is within the reach 

 of the spear ; consequently, if not protected from 

 this deadly weapon, every salmon is likely to perish. 

 Much irregularity proceeds from this crime (a mala 

 prohibita, at least), such as idleness, night-walk- 

 ing, drunkenness, and all the train of vices which 

 the poaching system produces and confirms- To 

 exemplify still further the nature and extent of 

 this mischievous abuse, it is necessary to observe 

 that the salmon cannot spawn at any place they 

 please ; there are mills on some rivers which do 

 not afford a convenient situation for them j it must 

 be in undisturbed beds of sand of a particular 

 quality and fineness, generally such as is thrown 

 back into an eddy or whirl at the bottom of a ra- 

 pid ; the stream must also be of a certain velocity ; 

 if too violent the spawn pits are apt to be unco- 

 vered, and the whole pea to fall a sacrifice to trout 

 and other fish which are ravenous after it. The 

 sand must also be so deep as to admit of a pit of 

 eighteen inches. On the other hand the fish 

 equally avoid still water, no doubt for some good 

 reason, though to us it is only known that a run- 

 ning stream is necessary to fecundate the ova. As 

 the fish then seek only certain places, where what is 

 called their works are plainly discernible, (for 

 when fresh works are observed, the fish are not 

 far off,) those who understand this system of 



