UP THE STREAM. l-~> 



spate, make eleven efforts before it succeeded. The poet 

 Drayton describes tins strange mode of locomotion with 

 much graphic vigour, though, be it said, with some 

 exaggeration : 



" Whenas the salmon seeks a fresher stream to find 

 (Which yearly by the sea comes hither of his mind, 

 As he in reason grows), and stems the watery tract 

 Where Tivy falling down doth make a cataract, 

 Forced by the rising rocks that there her course oppose, 

 As though within their bounds they meant her to enclose; 

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

 And knows that by his strength but vainly he doth strive, 

 His tail takes in his teeth; and, bending like a bow 

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

 Then springing with his tail, as doth a little wand 

 That, bended end to end, and flirted from the hand- 

 Far off itself doth cast, so doth the salmon vault ; 

 And if at first he fail, his second somersault 

 He instantly essays; and from his nimble ring 

 Still yesting, never leaves until himself lie fling 

 Above the streamful top of the surrounded heap."* 



It is an entertaining sight, in spring and summer-, to 

 watch the salmon making their way up a stream. Every 

 high tide brings up a number of them, and they seem to 

 have no other object than the youth in Longfellow's 

 " Excelsior." In the shallow places, you may see them 

 swimming, or, more correctly speaking, wading, in water 

 two or three inches deep, so that half their glittering, 

 sheeny body is exposed to view. On they go, however, 

 scrambling up the fords, and making tho water fly to the 

 right and left, like ducks at play.t When the fish are 

 numerous, you may catch sight of a dozen or so at once ; 

 and at such points they might be killed by spears, or 

 even by a stick, and, indeed, says Mr. St. John, many a 

 salmon does come to his death in this way. The fisher- 

 men, when the river is low, escape much useless fatigue, 



* Drayton, " Poly-Olbion," book xxi. 



t C. St. John, " Wild Sports of the Highlands," p. 54, ct sqq. 



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