126 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



over wears 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 downright, and so high, that the people stand 

 and wonder at the strength and sleight by which they see the 

 Salmon use to get out of the sea into the said river ; and the 

 manner and height of the place is so notable, that it is known 

 far by the name of the " Salmon-leap." Concerning which, 

 take this also out of Michael Drayton, my honest old friend, as 

 he tells it you in his Polyolbion : 



As when the Salmon seeks a fresher stream to find 

 (Which hither from the sea comes yearly by his kind,) 

 As he towards season grows ; and stems the watery 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 enclose ; 

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

 And finds that by his strength he does but vainly strive ; 

 His tail takes in his mouth, and, bending like a bow 

 That 's to full compass drawn, aloft himself doth throw, 

 Then springing at his height, as doth a little wand 

 That bended end to end, and started from man's hand, 

 Far off itself doth cast : so does the Salmon vault ; 

 And if, at first, he fail, his second summersault 

 He instantly essays, and from his nimble ring 

 Still yerking, never leaves until himself he fling 

 Above the opposing stream. 



This Michael Drayton tells you of this leap, or summersault, 

 of the Salmon.* 



And, next, I shall tell you, that it is observed by Gesner and 

 others, that there is no better Salmon than in England ; and 

 that though some of our northern counties have as fat and as 

 large as the river Thames, yet none are of so excellent a taste, f 



And as I have told you, that Sir Francis Bacon observes, the 

 age of a Salmon exceeds not ten years ; so let me next tell you, 

 that his growth is very sudden. It is said, that after he is got 



* In the Statistical Account of Benley, we are told of a Salmon leap, by 

 the side of which a kettle was kept boiling, and the Salmon frequently, on 

 missing- their spring-, fell into this kettle and were boiled alive. J. R. 



f- The following interesting article of intelligence appeared in one of the. 

 London Journals, 18th April, 1789 . " The largest Salmon ever caught 

 was yesterday brought to London. This extraordinary fish measured up 

 wards of four feet from the point of the nose to the extremity of the tail, 

 and three feet round the thickest part of the body ; its weight was seventy 

 pounds within a few ounces. A fishmonger in the Minories cut it up at 

 one shilling per pound, and the whole was sold almost immediately." 



