AND HOW TO CATCH THEM. 9 



cataracts like a silver bolt its motto, " Excelsior," 

 until some broad clear shallow or brawling pebbly 

 brook is reached, when the pilgrims halt, and with 

 their strong sharp noses scoop and hollow out the 

 gravel, forming a furrow in which both spawn and 

 milt are deposited ; when another and another of like 

 kind are formed, spawned in, covered with gravel, and 

 passed over until all the ova has been deposited. 

 The now weakened and impoverished fish watch the 

 "bed" with jealous eye and ready tooth, lest some 

 marauding fish or other intruder should attack the 

 hidden treasure. The old fish now quickly betake 

 themselves to deep pools, in which to regain strength 

 and fit themselves for their return to the sea if spared 

 to do so. They are now what is called kelts, un- 

 sightly as they were before beautiful, unfit for food 

 or aught else, and should never be destroyed by the 

 true sportsman, claiming his pity and protection 

 rather than persecution. Speed the poor spent fish 

 on his way, and when the sea shall have once more 

 lent power to his frame and re-silvered his side, he 

 may again return as before to work out his destiny. 

 In about five months from the period of deposition 

 the small fish or fry leave the capsule in which they 

 were imprisoned, work their way up through the 

 gravel, and commence the cares and struggles of life ; 

 feeding eagerly on small flies, worms, or the larvae of 

 water insects. They are now smolts or salmon fry, 

 leading a joyous, leaping life of it in the clear stickles, 



