236 MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 



salmon from the fishers of the "strike" at Eltring- 

 ham ford. At that time, I never paid more, and 

 often less, than three-halfpence per pound (mostly 

 a heavy, guessed weight, about which they were 

 not exact).* Before, or perhaps about this time, 

 there had always been an article inserted in 

 every indenture in Newcastle, that the apprentice 

 was not to be obliged to eat salmon above twice 

 a week,t and the like bargain was made upon 

 hiring ordinary servants. It need not be added 

 that the salvio tribe then teemed in abundance in 

 the Tyne, and there can be little doubt that the 

 same immense numbers would return to it again 

 were proper measures pursued to facilitate their 

 passage from the sea to breed. All animals, ex- 

 cepting fish, only increase, but they multiply, and 

 that in so extraordinary a degree as to set all 

 calculation at defiance. It is well known that they 

 ascend every river, rivulet, and burn, in search 

 of proper places to deposit their spawn; and this 

 is the case both with those kinds which quit the 

 sea, and those which never leave the fresh water. 



[* This is confirmed by the following extracts from Sykes's 

 " Local Records," 1833, i, pp. 221, 246 and 281 : 



" I 75^ (J u ^y 2 )- Upwards of 2,000 salmon were taken in the 

 river Tyne, and, being brought to Newcastle market, were sold at 

 one penny and three-halfpence per pound." 



"1764 (July 20). Such a great quantity of salmon was taken 

 in the river Tyne, that it was sold for a penny farthing per pound." 



" I 77 I (July T 5)- Upwards of 4,000 salmon were exposed to sale 

 in Newcastle fish-market, which sold for about a penny farthing per 

 pound, 107 salmon were caught that morning at one fishery above 

 Tyne bridge."] 



[f Vide Mackenzie's "History of Newcastle," 1827, p. 744: "The 

 Fisheries on the Tyne were, in ancient time's, of great importance ; 

 and the salmon (which is the finest of its species) so plentiful, that 

 apprentices covenanted to be fed with it only twice a week."] 



