92 FISHING GOSSIP. 



beg for their best endeavours to enlighten the public 

 upon the two following interesting points to be con- 

 sidered : 1st, The why and the wherefore with refer- 

 ence to the fact, that while a great many fish disport 

 themselves in the cool briny exhilarating waters of 

 the sea, luxuriating in the greatest variety of deli- 

 cious food, during far the greater portion of the year, 

 others betake themselves to the vapid waters of the 

 inland rivers, there to dwell in apparent discomfort, 

 stuck under weeds and banks to shade themselves 

 from the scorching sun of summer. 2d, Whether all, 

 and if not, what proportion of the salmon spawn 

 every year, or every alternate year. There is evidence 

 to show that kelts, going down in February, having 

 spawned in the course of the previous winter, which 

 have been carefully marked, return to the rivers in 

 the course of the ensuing summer for the ostensible 

 purpose of spawning the following winter ; while it 

 is quite certain that those exceptional fish which 

 ascend in November, December, and January as- 

 suming that they do not spawn until the following 

 autumn must allow a season to elapse between the 

 events. Now, gentlemen-naturalists of the jury, you 

 will, it is to be hoped, well and truly try the issues 

 submitted in this case, and true- verdict give accord- 

 ing to the evidence. 



W. J. F. 



