SALMOK. 15 



numbers without seeing them; but a seasonable 

 flood then hurries them all to the sea, scarce any 

 being left in the river. About the middle of June, 

 the earliest of the fry begin to drop, as it were, into 

 the river again from the sea, at that time being about 

 twelve or fourteen inches in length ; and by a 

 gradual progress increase in number and size, till 

 the end of July, when they are termed Grilse. In 

 the beginning of August they lessen in number, but 

 increase in size, some being six or eight pounds in 

 weight. 



All fishermen agree that they never find any food 

 in the stomach of this fish. Perhaps during the 

 spawning time they may entirely neglect their food ; 

 and that they return to sea lank and lean, and come 

 from it in good condition. It is evident that, at 

 times, their food is both fish and worms, for the 

 angler uses both with good success; as well as a 

 large gaudy artificial fly, which they probably mistake 

 for a gay Libellula, or Dragon Ply. 



In the river Tweed, about the month of July, 

 the capture of Salmon is astonishing, often a boat 

 load, and sometimes nearly two, are taken in a tide ; 

 in one instance more than seven hundred fish were 

 caught at a single haul of the net. From fifty to a 

 hundred at a haul are very common. The season 

 for fishing commences in the Tweed in February, 



