192 BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 



doctrine. No advance in knowledge is possible on such lines, 

 which, on the contrary, must tend to the darkening of 

 understanding. 



Those who hold to the belief that salmon feed in our 

 rivers should reflect upon the depleted state of the salmon 

 population. Industrious netting has brought the stock to 

 a low ebb ; were the fish as numerous now as they were 

 in primitive times — as they are now in some of the rivers 

 of the Pacific coast of America — what prospect would they 

 have of subsistence in a hungry Highland river, where even 

 the common trout display evidence of very meagre fare .'' 

 Last year, during the great drought of July (1901), I lay 

 on the rocks beside a deep but narrow "linn" on a Scottish 

 river, and counted upwards of sixty salmon and grilse 

 congregated there. The water was crystal clear ; I could 

 detect every movement of the fish, and specially took note 

 of the action in performing a leap, as from time to time 

 a fish would throw himself out of the water. Presently I 

 noticed a couple of very small trout swimming unconcernedly 

 over the backs of the great fish below, snapping at flies, 

 and manifesting a sense of the utmost security. " My 

 little friends ! " was my soliloquy, " a sorry look-out it 

 would be for you if salmon sought for food in fresh water." 



No : it is contrary to the lessons of dispassionate 

 observation, to common sense, and to the results of 

 physiological research, to doubt that the normal condition 

 of salmon, after they leave the sea and until they return 

 to it, is one of fasting. The predaceous instinct and habit 

 disposes them to seize, at capricious intervals, lifehke moving 

 objects, such as artificial flies or spinning baits ; spasms of 

 gourmandise induce them, also at capricious intervals, to 

 seize and mumble such savoury morsels as worms or prawns ; 

 but never has any man beheld salmon in quest of prey in 

 a river. 



The case of the Canadian ouananiche and of the " land- 



