SALMON 19 



in their passage to the sea. When they arrive in 

 the deep pools where the water runs evenly, they lie 

 in sculls, and take a rest for some days : here they 

 are caught in great quantities by anglers, as they 

 take the fly and other baits freely. March is usually 

 the best month for this sport if, indeed, it can be 

 called sport to kill an animal that is worth a mere 

 trifle, and resists but little. If there are freshes, the 

 Kelts (for so the females that have spawned are 

 called) quit the Tweed before the month of May, 

 and the Kippers, or male fish, at the same time. 

 Very many do so in March and April, according to 

 the time that they have spawned and regained their 

 powers. In going downwards they are taken about 

 Kelso, or at least they used to be so in my time, 

 with the long net, in pools where they rest, such as 

 that below Kelso Bridge ; but they cannot be 

 caught by the cairn nets, which are so destructive 

 to them in ascending. 



Having now despatched the Salmon to the sea, it 

 remains to me to explain what becomes of the spawn, 

 and how and when the young fry arrive at maturity ; 

 and as there have been various doubts and contra- 

 dictions on this subject, I think it more prudent to 

 lead the reader to a consideration of the following 

 pages, than to make a positive assertion on my 

 own unsupported authority. 



Mr. Shaw's ingenious experiments have lately had 

 a very wide circulation ; but still I have thought it 



is the appearance of the vent. In a kelt the orifice is always some- 

 what large and inflamed, showing signs of the recent spawning. 

 In a clean f;jh it is small and free from redness. (D.) 



