108 ABERDEENSHIRE. 



spawned. 1 I have often killed fish of this kind ; 

 and many have I returned back, both on Don 

 and Tweed, which had the worm in their gills. 

 The fact is, that salmon are peculiarly constituted 

 and circumstanced, having, I may say, two 

 thorns in the flesh. In the sea they have a bug 

 or louse, which attacks them generally near the 

 vennal and pectoral fins ; this drives them by 

 nature's law into fresh water, to get rid of it ; 

 and, when they stay long in fresh water, the 

 maggot comes into their gills, which drives them 

 again to seek the salt water, to get free of it. 

 Without both these elements, salmon cannot con- 

 tinue their species ; and they may be said to live 

 continually between { the devil and the deep sea.' 

 In proof of such fact, I may mention, that 

 sometime not long since, at a convivial meeting 

 of fishers, there happening to be a London friend 

 present, on the toast being drank, to the 'Lousy 

 Stranger,' he felt quite indignant, till it was ex- 

 plained. It only meant the clean run fish for 

 this sport. On another occasion, a gentleman 

 fisher came down in spring, and began to fish 



1 On Tweed they have what is called a mended kelt, 

 that is, a fish that has spawned early in the lower waters, 

 and has improved afterwards, before returning to the sea. 



