THE SALMON FAMILY. 281 



in Scotland, it is said, is to mark them when taken in a net, 

 bj fastening a small piece of copper or zinc, with a fine copper 

 wire, in the root of the adipose fin, or in the rudimentary rays 

 of some of the other fins, or in other parts of the body where 

 it interferes least with the health and growth of the fish ; the 

 piece of copper or zinc has a number stamped on it, which is 

 entered with appropriate memoranda in a book kept for the 

 purpose. The fish, impelled by an unerring instinct, returns 

 year after year, if not prevented by accident, to continue its 

 species in its native river, and many of those thus marked 

 are retaken and the growth ascertained. Sometimes this is 

 repeated, and their subsequent growth from time to time found 

 out. This and other means of collecting facts concerning the 

 natural history of the Salmon, are at the command of large 

 landed proprietors in Great Britain, whose domains frequently 

 include several fine Salmon rivers. 



THE MATURE SALMON. We now come to the mature fish ; 

 no longer the rollicking hobbiedehoy, or frolicsome maiden 

 Grilse, but the bright glorious Salmon in all its strength and 

 beauty. There is nothing fairer ; no fish that so flutters the 

 heart, and blanches the cheek, when for the first time a great 

 swell, and perhaps a gleam of molten silver is seen above the 

 surface on the very pitch of the pool, and the tyro finds that 

 he is fast, by a small hook and a hairlike piece of silkworm- 

 gut, to something strong and heavy ; which goes at first 

 where it pleases, with head against the current, and presently 

 with a mad rush takes its course down stream, and by despe- 

 rate leaps endeavors to rid itself of the frail tackle, that at 

 last, by the unceasing bearing of the pliant rod, brings it 

 within reach of the deadly gaff. 



A Salmon that comes from the sea in July a bright fish 

 of ten pounds, loses its pearly hue and stout proportions as 

 the summer wears away. Its fins, which were white and 



