168 ANGLING. 



mon, he had not proved their identity, but only 

 succeeded in producing a hybrid, thus " peopling 

 the isle with monsters." The brood, however, in 

 no way differs from those produced under ordinary 

 circumstances, as may be seen by an inspection of 

 specimens marked B. Mr. Shaw has justly ob- 

 served that if parr were actually a distinct species, 

 the result of their attendance on the female salmon 

 would produce universal and irremediable confusion 

 among these migratory inhabitants of rivers, " from 

 the circumstance of the male parrs in a breeding 

 state occupying in great numbers the very centre 

 of the salmon spawning-bed, while the female sal- 

 mon herself is at the same instant pouring thousands 

 of her ova into the very spot where they are thus 

 genially congregated." 



But we fear we have been already too discursive 

 and prolonged on these important points, and that 

 our young pupils of the angle may, with truth, ac- 

 cuse us of cruelty in thus so long keeping " the rod 

 suspended." Proceed we then to a short notice of 

 the salmon, viewed in relation to the practice of the 

 angler's art. This fine fish delights in large and 

 streaming rivers. It is not only a rapid but an 

 early riser, and bites best from six in the morning 

 till eleven in the forenoon, and from three in the 

 afternoon till sunset. A moderate breeze is of ad- 

 vantage ; and the best months are March, April, 

 May, and June. The salmon is justly regarded by 

 the angler as the king of fish ; and when we con- 

 sider that they occasionally measure four feet in 

 length, and weigh upwards of 70 pounds, we may 



