NINTH DAY.] SALMO HUCHO. 235 



though rather softer than that of a trout, I have 

 never observed in it that muddiness, or peculiar 

 flavour, which sometimes occurs in trout, even when 

 in perfect season. 



I shall say a few words more on the habits of this 

 fish. The hucho, as you have seen, preys with great 

 violence, and pursues his object as a foxhound or a 

 greyhound does. I have seen them in repose : they 

 lie like pikes, perfectly still, and I have watched one 

 for many minutes, that never moved at all. In this 

 respect their habits resemble those of most carnivorous 

 and predatory animals. It is probably in consequence 

 of these habits, that they are so much infested by 

 lice, or leeches, which I have seen so numerous in 

 spring as almost to fill their gills, and interfere with 

 their respiration ; in which case they seek the most 

 rapid and turbulent streams to free themselves from 

 these enemies. They are very shy, and after being 

 hooked avoid the baited line. I once saw a hucho, 

 for which I was fishing, follow the small fish, and 

 then the lead of the tackle ; it seemed as if this had 

 fixed his attention, and he never offered at the bait 

 afterwards. I think a hucho, that has been pricked 

 by the hook, becomes particularly cautious, and 

 possesses, in this respect, the same character as the 

 salmon. In summer, when they are found in the 

 roughest and most violent currents, their fins 



