The Natural History of the Salmon. 83 



increase in size is evident, chiefly for the abundance 

 of food which they are able to procure. 



The question has often been asked : " Why is it 

 that as no food is ever found in the stomach of 

 salmon in fresh water, he rises at the fly? For 

 what does he mistake the gaudy image by which 

 he is so marvellously allured, taking it even at a 

 very short distance from the sea ? " 



The salmon takes the fly because he thinks it 

 something to eat, and for no other reason. Because 

 nothing is found in his stomach is no argument 

 that he does not feed as other fish ; he may have 

 a very quick digestion, or he may eject the food 

 when alarmed, this I have myself seen done by 

 sea trout. If the fly is carefully watched as it is 

 drawn across the stream in short jerks, it will be 

 seen that it is wonderfully like a living thing, 

 and for that it is mistaken by the fish, and if 

 hungry, or inclined to feed, or what in fishing 

 language is called, to sport, up he comes at it, 

 not as Sir Humphry Davy supposes, from any 

 recollection of its food when a parr, but simply 

 from the natural instinct to take something 

 living when in the humour. That that humour 

 is most capricious every salmon fisher knows, to 

 the cost of his temper and patience. Also 

 salmon run eagerly at a bunch of lob worms ; 

 would they do so if they were not hungry and 



