RUNNING THE RAPIDS. 161 



bottom, and he rarely goes out of the water till 

 netted, while the salmon rushes with such velocity, 

 nose upward, that he is in the air before he knows 

 it. 



In taking the fly, I award the palm to the trout, 

 as he usually throws himself out of water to do so. 

 The salmon does not, he scarcely more than shows 

 himself; but after being hooked the sport com- 

 mences, and it is all activity to the death, rarely any 

 sulking. 



As regards beauty, while the palm must be 

 awarded to the trout, yet the salmon is a very 

 handsome fish. I think his form is better moulded 

 than that of the trout, and he has a much finer 

 head, which is beautifully spotted. The young fish 

 has bright red spots upon the body, which dis- 

 appear as he matures ; the only spots then being 

 small crosses of black, which form a pleasing con- 

 trast with the silvery lustre of the skin. When 

 first taken from the water, they are a most beau- 

 tiful specimen of the finny tribe. 



And now, having painted this lord of the stream 

 from my mind's palette, perhaps you may ask, 

 " How does he affect another palate ? " 



And I answer you : Decidedly he is equal, if 

 not superior, to my taste, to the trout ; such is my 

 decision after a fair test, and it is also that of many 



