178 THE COMPLETE ANGLEE. [PART I. 



The Salmons having spent their appointed time, and done 

 this natural duty in the fresh waters, they then haste to 

 the sea before winter, both the melter and spawner : but if 

 they be stopped by flood-gates or weirs, or lost in the fresh 

 waters, then those so left behind, by degrees grow sick 

 and lean, and unseasonable, and kipper, that is to say, have 

 bony gristles grow out of their lower chaps, not unlike a 

 hawk's beak, 1 which hinders their feeding ; and in time, 

 such fish so left behind pine away and die. It is ob- 

 served, that he may live thus, one year, from the sea : 

 but he then grows insipid and tasteless, and loses both his 

 blood and strength ; and pines and dies the second year. 

 And it is noted, that those little salmons called skeggers, 

 which abound in many rivers relating to the sea, 2 are bred 

 by such sick salmons that might not go to the sea ; and, 

 that though they abound, yet they never thrive to any con- 

 siderable bigness. 3 



But if the old Salmon gets to the sea, then that gristle 

 which shows him to be a kipper, wears away ; or is cast off, 

 as the eagle is said to cast his bill ; and he recovers his 

 strength ; and comes next summer to the same river, if it be 

 possible, to enjoy the former pleasures that there possest 

 him ; 4 for, as one has wittily observed, he has like some 

 persons of honour and riches, which have both their winter 



1 This gristly tusk, or "gil," is only found in male salmon generally 

 about spawning time, and some weeks afterwards, and disappears as the fish 

 get into condition, and reappear in the following breeding season. The use 

 of it is not accurately known. Browne thinks it is a temporary defence 

 against other fish that would devour the spawn, but Ephemera is of opinion, 

 after much observation, that its use is for making furrows in the gravel bed 

 of the river in which the female deposits her milt. ED. 



2 "Particularly the rivers of Yorkshire, Devonshire, and Dorsetshire 

 about May." BROWNE. 



3 This is now found to be incorrect. Skeggers are the one-year old pro- 

 duce of healthy and not of sick salmon. Mr. Yarrell adopts the following 

 terminology : Salmon of the first year is a Penk ; of the second year, till 

 he goes to the sea, a Smolt ; and after its return, in the autumn, Salmon 

 Peal, or Grilse. ED. 



4 The migration of the salmon, and divers other sorts of fishes, is 

 analogous to that of birds ; and Mr. Ray confirms Walton's assertion, by 

 saying, that " Salmon will yearly ascend a river firar or five hundred miles ; 

 only to cast their spawn, and secure it in banks of sand till the young be 

 hatched and excluded ; they then return to sea again." See Ray's Wisdom 

 of God in the Creation, p. 80. 



