THE SALMON. 99 



When they leave the salt water, the sea-lice that have 

 fastened to them fall off, frequently to be replaced by 

 fresh-water parasites, and this is sometimes given as the 

 reason for their leaving the sea so early in the year, 

 although they do not spawn till the Fall. While spawn- 

 ing they are unfit to eat, and after the operation are 

 utterly exhausted. In this condition, when returning to 

 the sea, they are termed kelts, the male being distin- 

 guished as a kipper and the female as a baggit. As the 

 spawning season approaches, a curious cartilaginous 

 hook grows from the lower jaw, which is supposed to be 

 a provision of nature to prevent an unfortunate termina- 

 tion to the many desperate contests between the males 

 at that period. 



The habits of salmon are by no means determined; 

 in fact, little is known positively about them. It has 

 been even suggested that grilse are a distinct species, 

 although it is hardly doubted with us but they are young 

 salmon. Their times of visiting the fresh water are 

 subject to peculiar individual exceptions; in fact, it may 

 be said there are two opinions among fishermen, and 

 persons who have watched salmon for twenty and thirty 

 years assert that some are ascending while others are 

 descending. Izaak Walton says that salmon spawn in 

 August, which is directly contrary to the views of other 

 English writers, and certainly not in accordance with the 

 practice of our fish. Others again say they return to 

 the salt water in September, and reascend the rivers 

 later in the Fall. The young in all stages have been 

 disputed over, and called by divers names, such as pinks, 

 smolts, parr, brandling, samlet, peal, grilse, until one 



