102 THE SALMON. 



toes or black gnats, at neither of which would gentle- 

 manly fish deign to look. My theory, therefore, is, that 

 salmon do not feed during the spawning season, but are 

 supported by the animalculse in the water, and have poor 

 commons at that, as their miserable condition soon testi- 

 fies. Many varieties of fish live without apparent food, 

 often with the additional disadvantage of infrequent 

 change of water, as goldfish in a globe. 



When salmon first arrive in the harbors, they coast 

 along the shore, and are then taken in nets, which are 

 required by law to have a mesh too large to capture 

 grilse ; later, they leave the warm shallows, and follow 

 the cooler channel beyond the nets, which are only per- 

 mitted to extend a certain distance. The tide-water 

 fishing is therefore practically over by the 1st of August. 

 Net fishing above the salt water is forbidden, or at least 

 subject to the same restrictions, which, if they were 

 enforced, would almost put an end to it ; but, discredit- 

 able as it may seem, and short-sighted as such conduct 

 unquestionably is, this law is totally disregarded in many 

 rivers, where of course the fish are rapidly diminishing. 

 They spawn over gravelly flats and pools, covering up 

 the ova after impregnation, and then descend slowly, 

 greatly emaciated, ugly and woe-begone, to the sea. At 

 such times, although they will still take the fly, they are 

 unfit to eat, and while they notwithstanding frequently 

 fall a victim to the cruel spear of the murderous savage, 

 no true angler nor honest man will harm them. 



Casting the fly gracefully and effectively is a peculiar 

 art, hard to acquire, and picturesque to witness ; it is 

 altogether different from slashing the water, and almost 



