196 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



Bacon hath observed in his " History of Life and Death," 

 above ten years. And it is to be observed, that though the 

 salmon does grow big in the sea, yet he grows not fat but 

 in fresh rivers ; and it is observed, that the farther they get 

 from the sea, they be both the fatter and better. 



Next I shall tell you, that though they make very hard 

 shift to get out of the fresh rivers into the sea, yet they will 

 make a harder shift to get out of the salt into the fresh 

 rivers, to spawn or possess the pleasures that they have 

 formerly found in them; to which end, they will force them- 

 selves through flood-gates, or over weirs or hedges, or stops 

 in the water, even to a height beyond common belief. Gesner 

 speaks of such places as are known to be above eight feet 

 high above water. And our Camden mentions, in his 

 "Britannia," the like wonder to be in Pembrokeshire, where 

 the river Tivy falls into the sea ; and that the fall is so down- 

 right, and so high, that the people stand and wonder at the 

 strength and sleight by which they see the salmon use 

 get out of the sea into the said river ; and the manner an< 

 height of the place is so notable, that it is known, far, by th( 

 name of the " Salmon-leap." Concerning which, take this 

 also out of Michael Drayton, a my honest old friend ; as h< 

 tells it you in his " Polyolbion : " 



And when the salmon seeks a fresher stream to find, 

 Which hither from the sea comes yearly by his kind ; 

 As he tow'rds season grows, and stems the wat'ry tract 

 Where Tivy falling down, makes a high cataract, 

 Forced by the rising rocks that there her course oppose, 

 As though within her bounds they meant her to inclose ; 

 Here, when the labouring fish does at the foot arrive, 

 And finds that by his strength he docs but vainly strive, 



