THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 13 



cate organism we have found display fastidiousness in 

 this respect, but the mass of voracious fish we believe to 

 be totally devoid of all sense of it. The nostrils are 

 doubtless the medium by which impurities in the water 

 are detected. Certain it is that such impurities are per- 

 ceived, and whenever possible avoided, as is plainly ex- 

 emplified in these days of river pollution. 



Apart from the above causes the movements of fish, 

 both migratory and non-migratory, are generally deter- 

 mined by one of two causes; first, by the search after 

 suitable places for the deposit of their eggs, a certain 

 temperature of water being necessary to vivify them; and 

 secondly by the quest of food. The movements of all 

 animals which feed on living creatures are greatly in- 

 fluenced by the habits of the creatures preyed upon, and 

 fish offer no exception to this rule. We shall now pro- 

 ceed to lay before our readers a comprehensive view of 

 what has taken us well nigh fifty years of patient appli- 

 cation to acquire, namely, the characteristic habits and 

 movements of anadromous and non-migratory fish, a 

 knowledge of which it is incumbent upon every fisher- 

 man to possess. 



THE SALMON* (Salmo solar,} As is well known, 

 these fish, with other orders of the same family, else- 

 where described, pass a portion of each year in salt water, 

 descending to the sea after they have deposited their 

 spawn on the gravelly beds of the higher portions of 

 rivers. The time of migration varies in different waters; 

 thus we hear of early and late rivers. The spawning 



contrary, to ensure a probable capture, they are permitted by the angler ! 

 to move off without restraint until the shell is crunched or the naked 

 bait pouched a decisive moment when the strike must be made in 

 stanter. These fish are accustomed to mouthing hard substances, hence 

 do not "spit out" the hook, if felt, when taking the naked or shell- 

 covered hook. 



* The Salmon (Salmo solar) of Great Britain is similar in its habits, 

 coloration, etc., tu the salmon of American Atlantic waters. 



