SALMON 49 



which, says Mr. Yarrell, is the largest fish on record, 

 and was exhibited at Mr. Grove's, fishmonger, in 

 Bond Street, about the season of 1821. This was a 

 female fish ; and, from the observation of the same 

 eminent authority, those fish which attain a very 

 unusual size have always proved to be females. 



But the devices and intelligence of fishermen have 

 increased as Salmon have become more marketable, 

 so that few escape all the perils that beset them long 

 enough to gain any considerable size ; and we no 

 more hear, as in days of yore, of a fish being ex- 

 changed, weight for weight, for a Highland wedder, 

 and the butcher having to pay. The Salmon in the 

 Tweed are no longer large ; far from it. During my 

 experience of twenty years I never caught one 

 there above thirty pounds, and very few above 

 twenty. I have remarked that the largest fish are 

 found in the most considerable rivers, which I attri- 

 bute to the superior chance of longevity where fish 

 have a greater scope for escape.* 



It appears, from the above facts and observations, 

 that Salmon are not uniform in their habits. Some 

 come into the river many months before they are in 

 a spawning condition, and remain in it till the time 



* The Tweed has in some measure recovered its reputation for 

 big fish since Scrope wrote this. Thirty-pounders are not uncommon 

 in a good autumn and much heavier specimens are caught some- 

 times. The heaviest Tweed fish caught on a rod on record is one of 

 57^- Ib. which was caught on the Floors water in 1886 by Mr. Pryor. 

 In 1907 one of 60 Ib. was found dead in the Mertoun water. In the 

 spring the fish do not run so big, a 2o-pounder being somewhat 

 unusual. In 1920, however, a 43-pounder was caught on April 22, 

 on the Rutherford water, and this is accounted the biggest spring 

 fish ever taken from the river on rod and line. (liu.) 



