"S THE SCOTTISH ANGLER. 



CHAPTER IX. 

 THE SALMON, CHAR, AND VENDACE. 



A FEW brief and general remarks upon the salmon and 

 its varieties may now be ventured. The salmon and 

 sea trout, on leaving our rivers, do not, as is supposed 

 by some, wander to any great distance from their 

 mouths, but generally lie off, near at hand, and within 

 perception of the fresh water. Should stake-nets 

 stand in their way, they will evince great natural sa- 

 gacity in avoiding them. We have been informed by 

 the holders of this kind of fishery, that salmon are only 

 to be taken in any quantity during dark weather, and 

 moonless nights. Moreover, that in a clear sea, shoals 

 of them will gather not twenty yards from the nets, 

 without a single fish attempting to cross ; and that they 

 will rise and play round about them, seemingly with- 

 out alarm. This latter fact we ourselves have often 

 noticed near Queensferry, on the Forth, where we may 

 mention that they are not unfrequently taken with the 

 rod, although in salt water, and at a good distance from 

 shore. 



We refer those who question this circumstance to 

 Mr Macqueen, the lessee of the stake-fisheries in that 

 quarter. And as to the food of salmon at sea, we are 

 of opinion, along with Dr Knox, that they live on small 

 insects and animalculae, which sort of subsistence is 

 proved to be greatly more nourishing than worms or 

 minnows. 



An interesting experiment was made with trout some 

 years ago, in the south of England, in order to ascer- 



