THE FOURTH DAY. 



CHAP. Nil. Observations of the SALMON, with Directions how to 

 fish for him. 



PlSCATOR. 



THE Salmon is accounted the King of fresh-water fish, and 

 is ever bred in rivers relating to the sea ; yet so high, or 

 far from it, as admits of no tincture of salt, or brackishness. 

 He is said to breed or cast his spawn, in most rivers, in the 

 month of August : some say that then they dig a hole or grave 

 in a safe place in the gravel, and there place their eggs or 

 spawn, after the melter has done his natural orifice, and then 

 hide it most cunningly, and cover it over with gravel and 

 stones ; and then leave it to their Creator's protection, who, 

 by a gentle heat which He infuses into that cold element, 

 makes it brood and beget life in the spawn, and to become 

 Samlets early in the spring next following. 



The Salmons having spent their appointed time, and done 

 this natural duty, in the fresh waters, they then haste to the 

 sea before winter, both the melter and spawner : but if they 

 be stopped by flood-gates or weirs, or lost in the fresh waters, 

 then those so left behind by degrees grow sick, and lean, and 

 unseasonable, and kipper ; that is to say, have bony gristles 

 grow out of their lower chaps, not unlike a hawk's beak, which 

 hinder their feeding ; and, in time, such fish so left behind 

 pine away and die. 'T is observed that he may live thus one 

 year from the sea ; but he then grows insipid, and tasteless, 

 and loses both his blood and strength, and pines and dies the 

 second year. And 't is noted, that those little Salmons called 



