FISHES. 49 



It is not too much to say, that the western fish- 

 eries, from the falls of St. Mary's to Lake Cham- 

 plain, can be made to produce a million of dol- 

 lars annually. 



Along the canal I have been regaled with the 

 salmon and pike in great perfection. The salmo 

 fario, or common trout is visible in various places 

 in the canal. 



The science of ichthyology is pregnant with 

 instruction and amusement. The migration of 

 fishes, their occasional appearance and absence 

 their habits, &,c. are subjects of interesting inqui- 

 ry. The most remarkable circumstance in their 

 natural history is their extreme longevity and rapid 

 growth. A salmon weighing 7f lbs. was taken 

 on the 7th of February at Warrington, (Eng.) 

 and marked with scissors on the back fin and tail, 

 and turned into the river, and was again taken on 

 the 17th of the following March, and was then 

 found to weigh 17£ lbs. Some of the salmon, (1 

 mean the salmo salar of Linna?us) stay in the 

 western lakes all the year. But these may perhaps 

 be considered estrays. The history of this fish is 

 involved in much obscurity, and so indeed is that 

 of all erratic fish. Pennant says, that every spe- 

 cies of salmon is found in the rivers of Kamtsclmt- 

 ka. It is observed that each shoal keep apart 

 from others of different species, and frequently 



