CHAPTEE III 



OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FISH 

 THE SALMON 



The salmon is the noblest of fresh-water fish, and 

 stands highest in the angler's estimation. He is the 

 priace of the streams, and his title to precedence has 

 never yet been questioned. His magnitiide, his keen 

 and lively eye, his muscular powers, his rapid and 

 graceful motions, his beautiful proportions, his shining 

 silvery scales, his intellectual instinct, and his superior, 

 rich, delicate flavour, all unite in establishing superiority 

 over all other fish. Neither should it be forgotten that 

 galmon-fishing is considered the angler's highest sport, 

 whilst it affords the best criterion of his professional 

 skill. Indeed, angling for this noble fish may he 

 deemed the measure or standard of the angler's 

 dexterity, the test of his art, the legitimate object of 

 his loftiest aspirations ; affording an undeniable proof 

 of his fitness to take his stand amongst the most 

 accomplished adepts of this interesting craft. 



The salmon was not known to the ancient Greeks. 

 The first notice we have of it is in Pliny's Natural 

 History (9, 12), and the first regular account we have of 

 it in any Latin classic author is contained in the 

 Mosella of Ausonius. Here we have the progressive 

 stages in the growth of the fish. The saXar is the sea- 

 trout, the fario is what in Scotland is called the grilse, 



