THE SALMON. 1 49 



clearer on account of their mud having been pre- 

 viously deposited in the lap of their nursing mother, 

 and warmer by reason of the receptive depth of that 

 same parent. As the season advances, the number 

 of ascending fish increases, and it has been observed 

 that in this upland migration the proportion of early 

 females somewhat exceeds that of males. Grilse, 

 also, under which denomination are usually included 

 such rather small or middle-sized individuals as are 

 supposed to have never spawned, are said to ascend 

 somewhat earlier than those of maturer age. Mr. 

 Young of the Shin-fishery (Sutherlandshire), in- 

 formed us some years ago, that the Shin salmon 

 had begun to spawn earlier since they were pro- 

 tected from the leister, and other modes of poach- 

 ing. Most of the heavy earlier autumnal fish were 

 formerly destroyed, and few spawned till Novem- 

 ber; but during the then preceding season (1833) 

 salmon were seen depositing their ova by the 14th 

 of September. During our last visit to Sutherland, 

 we found stout grilse (three pounds and upwards.) 

 beginning to ascend the rivers by the 30th of May. 

 They had indeed been observed as early as the 15th 

 of that month. 



It is chiefly, however, towards autumn that the 

 heavy fish find their way to the actual spawning 

 beds, which are often formed either in the shallow 

 tributaries of the larger rivers, or in the upland 

 streams of these latter, at a great distance from the 

 sea. Many fish, far advanced with spawn, are 

 then destroyed by various means ; for it too often 

 happens, that the " needy and the greedy" are 



