39 



Stickleback. 



This fish is almost an universal inhabitant of 

 rivers, ponds, arid 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 1 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 or 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 



