34: THE SALMON FISHEK, 



one-half of a brood preceding the other by a long* 

 interval, by a wise provision of nature, lest the lives 

 of an entire hatching should be simultaneously jeop- 

 ardized by some untoward casualty. In the nour- 

 ishing waters of the ocean the smolt gains a pound in 

 weight per month, and after a luxurious summer 

 returns to his birthplace in the blue and silver 

 livery of a grilse, and very like an adult in appear- 

 ance, many of the males having, indeed, attained 

 sexual maturity, affording no end of sport to the 

 angler who happens to get one on his fly. The 

 grilse tarries in the upper river until the following 

 spring, and then returns to the sea a full grown 

 salmon, recuperates and fattens in the brine, and 

 again ascends at last on its eventful mission of pro- 

 creation. After the gravid fish have spawned they 

 stay in the river all winter and if there are lakes at 

 their headwaters which are well stocked with food 

 they soon recuperate and put on flesh ; but if not, 

 they play havoc with the salmon peel which they 

 find in the main river, and are often picked up by 

 the June angler, while working their way down to 

 salt water, still pitifully lean and emaciated but 



