80 SALMONID^. 



of one half of a hexagon ; the scales moderate in size, oval 

 and thin, easily removed when young, adherent when old. 

 The fin-rays in number are — 



D. 13 : P. 12 : V. 9 : A. 9 : C. 19. Vertebrae 60. 



Salmon, and indeed all the Salmonidce, like other fish that 

 swim near the surface of the water, cannot be eaten too fresh : 

 its fine flavour, as well as its value, diminish rapidly after 

 capture. In London a Thames Salmon commands the 

 highest price : the next in point of value is that sent 

 up either from Woodmill or Christchurch in Hampshire ; 

 then those fish received from the Severn, which are usually 

 brought by the mail from Gloucester. 



A Thames Salmon is a prize to a fisherman, which, like 

 other prizes, occurs but seldom. The last Thames Salmon I 

 have a note of was taken in June 1833. The appearance of 

 the Common Tern, or Sea-Swallow, which on its arrival in 

 May wings its flight for miles up the Thames, is the signal 

 to the fishermen to keep a good look-out for a Salmon : the 

 occasionally coincident reappearance of a Tern and a Salmon 

 has induced some of the Thames fishermen to apply to the 

 former the name of the Salmon-bird. 



