Fishing for Salmon. 41 



for a second or two, and draw well out to the side for a 

 fresh cast, cautiously. When a check occurs, be sure to 

 give line instantly, but keep the bait on the alert, that is, 

 do not let it get to the bottom. You will soon detect a 

 peculiar strain upon the line, then raise the rod smartly, 

 and you will have hooked your fish, which, if you manage 

 as before directed, you may safely land. 



The practice of fishing for Smelts, followed by many 

 Anglers, deserves the most severe condemnation of all 

 true sportsmen, and is one great cause why Salmon do 

 not increase in our rivers in the ratio that they otherwise 

 would. Any Smelts, or young of the Salmon, if taken 

 in trouting, at least, when under half a pound in weight, 

 should be restored to their native element. I shall not, 

 therefore, describe any method of taking them. 



SCIENTIFIC DESCRIPTION. 



ORDER IV. Abdominales. Ventral fins on the abdomen, 

 behind the pectoral. 



GENUS SALMO. Salmo Solar. Salmon. 



' ' Abdominal Malacopterygii. Salmonidce. 

 " Salmo Solar. LINN^US. 



Bloch, pt. i. pi. 20. female 



pt^iii. pi. 98. male in autumn. 



Salmon, PENN. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 382. 



FLEM. Brit. An. p. 179. sp. 40. 



" Its stages Parr, smolt or black fin ; grilse, first year ; Salmon. 



" Head smooth ; body covered with scales ; two dorsal fins, the 

 first supported by rays ; the second fleshy, without rays ; teeth on the 

 vomer, both palatine bones, and all the maxillary bones ; branchios- 

 tegous rays varying in number, generally from ten to twelve, but 

 sometimes unequal on the two sides of the head of the same fish. 

 " The fin rays in number are 

 " D. 13, P. 12, V. 9, A. 9, C. 19 ; Vertebrae 60." 



YARRELL, Brit. Fish, vol. ii. p. 1. 



