28 ANGLING. 



mystery, though ^successful attempts have, within the last ten 

 years, been made in clearing up some important facts connected 

 with their migratory habits, modes of propagation, and ratio of 

 growth. They resemble in their movements some of the feathered 

 creation, such as the swallow for example. Salmon have a strong 

 inclination to return to their last year's quarters, but are often 

 diverted from their course by any slight alterations in the course 

 of the river, or any new obstacle, as buildings, dams, &c., placed 

 across their path. In the history of the salmon-fisheries in Great 

 Britain, many curious facts are recorded about them as t9 these 

 particulars. Although a northern fish, and abounding in high 

 latitudes in great profusion, yet naturalists teU us that they are not 

 partial to a very cold stream, but prefer that one whose waters are 

 warmer, and where the rays of the sun have free access to it. 

 "There are two rivers in Southerlandshire " says Sir William 

 Jardine, "one, the Oikel, rising in a small Alpine lake ; the other, 

 the Shin, a tributary about five miles from its mouth, coming out 

 of Loch Shin, a large and deep lake connected with other deep 

 locks ; in early spring most of the salmon turn up the Shin, which 

 is the warmer of the two, while very few prosecute the main cur- 

 rent until a later period of the year." 



The salmon spawns generally in the months of September and 

 October, but there is a difference in this respect in different rivers. 

 This fact has been fully established in Parliamentary records, 

 framed with a direct reference to projected laws for the preser- 

 vation of this kind of fish. It is during this particular season of the 

 year that the salmon are seen passing up the rivers in enormous 

 shoals, and leaping over every obstacle which lies across their 

 path. The extraordinary power and agility the fish display in 

 these remarkable leaps, have long been the wonder of the natu- 

 ralist, and the theme of admiration and surprise to the angler. 

 They will spring over rapid falls from seven to ten feet in height, 

 and force their way against a powerful volume of descending water. 

 It is when the salmon are running up streams of this description, 

 broken by rapids, and crossed by cataracts, and when they thus 

 meet with apparently insuperable obstacles to their progress, that 

 enormous quantities are killed by poachers and fish-hunters, with 

 spears, leisters, and nets. We have frequently seen a band of men 

 come down to celebrated salmon-rivers, in the North of England 

 and in Scotland, with a cart and horse, and in a very short space 

 of time catch as many as the animal could draw. In fact the 

 destruction of salmon at tin's season of the year is quite appalling ; 

 and were it not for the vigilance of the guardians of the rivers, 

 and the strictness of the laws, the species would scarcely be able 

 to exist, under the constant repetition of practices so manifestly 

 destructive and unfair. 



The mode in which the salmon disposes of its spawn has been 

 often dwelt upon and discussed by scientific anglers. But, as the 

 subject does not immediately and necessarily come across the path 



