38 THE SALMON FISHER. 



of a mighty flood. There are no conditions or 

 stages, it would seem, when the salmon will not ac- 

 cept one or more of the above named baits "at 

 some time or other in the course of twenty-four 

 hours." Nothing interferes with their appetites. 

 These observations of Mr. Mackay are, therefore, of 

 the utmost importance in determining the hitherto 

 mysterious biology of this remarkable and much in- 

 vestigated fish. All the books which have hitherto 

 been written since the days of "Walton have not ap- 

 proached so near the line of correct conclusions. 

 But we proceed to quote : 



" Fresh-run salmon take the natural minnow with 

 avidity, but when it has been once or twice over the 

 pool in a settled water, the game is not worth the 

 candle. The natural minnow is of little use till the 

 spring is well advanced and the temperature of the 

 water well up. It does exceedingly well in the au- 

 tumn months, but here again with fresh-run fish. 



" As a substitute for natural minnow, small, dis- 

 tinctly marked burn trout, from a clear stream, often 

 prove fetching, and the more so if they have a golden 

 tinge along the sides and vent. Minnows of this 



