92 FISHING GOSSIP. 
beg for their best endeavours to enlighten the public 
upon the two following interesting points to be con- 
sidered :—1st, The why and the wherefore with refer- 
ence to the fact, that while a great many fish disport 
themselves in the cool briny exhilarating waters of 
the sea; luxuriating in the greatest variety of deli- 
cious food, during far the greater portion of the year, 
others betake themselves to the vapid waters of the 
inland rivers, there to dwell in apparent discomfort, 
stuck under weeds and banks to shade themselves 
from the scorching sun of summer. 2d, Whether all, 
and if not, what proportion of the salmon spawn 
every year, or every alternate year. There is evidence 
to show that kelts, going down in February, having 
spawned in the course of the previous winter, which 
have been carefully marked, return to the rivérs in 
the course of the ensuing summer for the ostensible 
purpose of spawning the following winter ; while it 
is quite certain that those exceptional fish which 
ascend in November, December, and January—as- 
suming that they do not spawn until the following 
autumn—iust allow a season to elapse between the 
events. Now, gentlemen-naturalists of the jury, you 
will, it is to be hoped, well and truly try the issues 
submitted in this case, and true verdict give accord- 
ing to the evidence. 
W. J. F. 
