THE SALMON 47 



other deep lochs ; in early spring most of the salmon turn np the 

 Shin, which is the warmer of the two, while very few prosecute 

 the main current until a later period of the year." 



The salmon spawns generally in the months of 

 September and October, but there is a diflference in this 

 respect in different rivers. This fact has been fully 

 established in Parliamentary records, framed with a 

 direct reference to projected laws for the preservation 

 of this kind of iish. It is during this particular season 

 of the year that the salmon are seen passing up the 

 rivers in enormous shoals, and leaping over every 

 obstacle which lies across their path. The extraordinary 

 power and agility the fish display in these remarkable 

 leaps, have long been the wonder of the naturalist, and 

 the theme of admiration and surprise to the angler. 

 They will spring over rapid falls from seven to ten feet 

 in height, and force their way against a powerful 

 volume of descending water. It is when the salmon 

 are running up streams of this description, broken by 

 rapids, and crossed by cataracts, and when they thus 

 meet with apparently insuperable obstacles to their 

 progress, that enormous quantities are killed by poachers 

 and fish-hunters, with spears, leisters, and nets. We 

 have frequently seen a band of men come down to 

 celebrated salmon-rivers, in the north of England and 

 in Scotland, with a cart and horse, and in a very short 

 space of time catch as many as the animal could draw. 

 In fact, the destruction of salmon at this season of the 

 year is quite appalling; and were it not for the 

 vigilance of the guardians of the rivers, and the strict- 

 ness of the laws, the species would scarcely be able 

 to exist, under the constant repetition of practices so 

 manifestly destructive and unfair. 



The mode in which the salmon disposes of its spawn 

 has been often dwelt upon and discussed by scientific 

 anglers. But as the subject does not immediately and 

 necessarily come across the path of the sportsman, we 

 shall not enter upon any elaborate description of this 

 peculiar process, but rather content ourselves with a 

 few general observations on the matter. 



