THE SALMON FISHEK. 47 



it is not altogether an impossible feat for a salmon 

 to mount a very high fall by these gradual steps, 

 stopping betimes to rest his muscles and moisten 

 his gills in the little basins which present them- 

 selves conveniently at hand. But they will not 

 essay this side passage until they have persistently 

 attempted to leap the breast of the fall ; hence, 

 some careless observers have maintained against all 

 reason, common sense, and mathematical demonstra- 

 tion, that salmon leap falls sixteen feet high and 

 upwards ! However, up the fish must go, impelled 

 irresistibly by the instinct of procreation, which 

 demands that they shall reach the upper waters. 

 The time of spawning often varies in the same river, 

 and is determined by the period at which impregna- 

 tion has taken place. A portion of the run, there- 

 fore, being riper than the rest, spawn sooner, and 

 having fulfilled their mission, return at once to the 

 sea, while their less fortunate belated kindred must 

 continue their pilgrimage, perchance to headwaters ; 

 for so long as their great work remains unaccom- 

 plished, they will pass on until stopped by unsur- 

 mountable obstacles. Eipe salmon are obliged to 



