NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SALMON. 299 



CHAPTER XI. 



THE HABITS OF THE ANGLERS FISH, AND THE BEST WAYS 

 OF CATCHING THEM FAIRLY. 



THE SALMON. Salmo Salar. 



THE natural history of this splendid fish, the 

 pride and profit of the great rivers of the British 

 Isles, was not known until about ten years ago. 

 The greatest natural historians, from the French 

 Lacepede down to our own observant Yarrel, 

 were ignorant of some of the main features of its 

 existence. Until the period alluded to we were 

 nearly all in error with respect to its growth, and 

 we thought the parr a distinct species. We have 

 now ascertained its growth, and know positively 

 that the parr is a young salmon of the first and 

 second year a fact the knowledge of which is 

 of importance with respect to the preservation of 

 the fish. The day may qome when the killing 

 of parr will be made universally a penal offence. 



