39 



Stickleback. 



This fish is almost an universal inhabitant of 

 rivers, ponds, and marshes, and when in its full 

 perfection of colour is highly beautiful; the back 

 being of a fine olive green, the sides silvery, and 

 the fins and belly of a bright red ; the colours fade 

 in a great degree as the season advances. The 

 general length of this minute species is about two 

 inches ; on each side and on the back are placed 

 several strong jagged spines, from whence it derives 

 its name. 



It is a fish of an extremely active and vigorous 

 nature, swimming rapidly, and preying upon the 

 smaller kinds of water-insects and worms, as well 

 as on the spawn of other fishes; and is, from this 

 circumstance, considered highly prejudicial to fish- 

 ponds. Its only use is to troll with for trout, pre- 

 viously cutting off the spines. 



Salmon. 



Salmon may be called the king of fresh-water 

 fish, and has different names, according to its dif- 

 ferent ages. Those that are taken in the river 

 Mersey, in Cheshire, the first year, are called 

 smelts; in the second, sprods; the third, morts; 

 the fourth, fox-tails; the fifth, half-fish; and in 

 the sixth, when they have attained their growth, 

 they ' are thought worthy of the name of salmon. 

 The smelts leave the Mersey about May <*r June, 

 and are then about two ounces a-piece, and return 

 about August and September, and are from one to 

 two pounds. 



The most alluring bait for the salmon is a raw 

 cockle taken from the shell; with this, fish at the 



